[meteorite-list] Re: My First Hunt + Gold Basin Data

From: geoking_at_notkin.net <geoking_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 09:37:36 2004
Message-ID: <v04220802b66706f6673c_at_[63.25.170.245]>

Dear Don and List:

Don, congrats on your finds at Gold Basin. I've been hunting there=20
myself, as have numerous members of the List, and we know how hard it=20
is to find meteorites among all those hot rocks.

List members and meteorite hunters Professor Jim Kriegh and Twink=20
Monrad, were the first to realize that the Gold Basin stones were=20
meteorites, and they initiated an extensive research program in=20
association Dr. David Kring of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory in=20
Oro Valley, Arizona. That program continues to this day, and involves=20
recording the weight and location of each Gold Basin find, in order=20
that detailed information about the strewn field can be compiled and=20
studied by meteoriticists. Twink told me, just today, that she was=20
disappointed that so many hunters had failed to supply Dr. Kring with=20
data regarding their finds. Gold Basin presents a nearly unique=20
opportunity to study an extensive and (initially) untouched strewn=20
field.

I interviewed Dr. Kring on this very subject for one of my two=20
articles on Gold Basin for "Meteorite!" magazine and he had this to=20
say:

=B3In addition to laboratory analysis, our goal is to map out the=20
distribution of fragments and their mass so that we can calculate the=20
height at which the Gold Basin asteroid exploded. This will tell us=20
the strength of the asteroid. We do not understand the strengths of=20
asteroids. This makes it difficult to assess the collisional hazards=20
of these objects and to assess different techniques that might be=20
used to deflect asteroids in collisional orbits. Since the Gold Basin=20
strewn field may help us in this, it is very important that we=20
preserve the site until we have enough information for the necessary=20
calculations.=B2

Don, I wonder if you know about Dr. Kring's research project, and if=20
you'd consider furnishing your data to him (forgive me if you have=20
already done so). I'd also encourage all others who have made finds=20
at Gold Basin to do the same thing. It's very satisfying to know that=20
-- in some small way -- one's finds are contributing to the=20
advancement of meteorite science, and it's also a rare chance for=20
amateurs and professionals to work together.

Sincerely,

Geoff Notkin

p.s. If anyone needs precise contact info for Dr. Kring, please=20
write to me off-List.

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Geoffrey Notkin
Senior Art Director
Stanegate Studios, USA
P.O. Box 87, Jersey City, NJ 07303

Telephone: (201) 435-8888

Email: geoking_at_notkin.net ammonite@aol.com
Web: www.notkin.net

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We talk about the "whys" and "wherefores"
Do we really care at all?
Talk about the frailty of words is rarely meaningful
When we're sitting watching the planes burn up through the night
Like meteorites

=20 -- T.V. Smith

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Received on Wed 20 Dec 2000 08:20:49 PM PST