[meteorite-list] Discovery May Be Saskatchewan's Largest Meteorite

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 09:52:06 2004
Message-ID: <200208071445.HAA00034_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://www.canada.com/saskatoon/news/story.asp?id={1D50AB85-921E-4460-AB26-10235A1A9C7B}

Discovery May Be Saskatchewan's Largest Meteorite
Scott Foster
The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon - Canada)
August 06, 2002

REGINA -- Scientists have discovered what could be Saskatchewan's largest known
meteorite.

Between 40 and 50 years ago, a fireball of cosmic rock created a sonic boom as
it pierced the Earth's atmosphere and crashed just south of Prince Albert, said
Martin Beech, an astronomy professor at the University of Regina.

The discovery was made after Beech and Brent Shelest, a geology student
at the University of Regina, unearthed details of 15 new meteorite fragments
recovered by farmers in the Red Deer Hill area. The isolated fragment
findings remained unreported for years. But that changed when area
residents became aware of the Prairie Meteorite Search project, a meteorite
recovery effort that has Shelest on a summer quest in search of "odd rocks."

"All of a sudden, what was thought to be one of the smaller records is now
the largest stone meteorite found in Saskatchewan," said Beech, adding
that the new fragments, along with three previously-collected samples,
have a combined weight of at least 17 kilograms (37 pounds) and could "easily
be as much as 25 kg (55 pounds)" by the time the area is scoured by scientists.

Beech is confident that all of the dark brown "fusion-crusted" fragments --
each of which is about the size of a fist or two -- originated from the same
parent rock that likely detonated during the 1950s or '60s, said Beech. All
samples are located in a meteorite-strewn area that spans a few kilometres
of farm fields.

The real challenge, however, is yet to come. In the coming weeks, Beech and
his colleagues will map out where they believe each fragment was uncovered.
They will also consult local residents and rifle though old newspapers and
other archived records to see if anyone witnessed or reported the meteorite's
landing, said Beech.

By finding out such details, the team of astronomers and geologists will
hopefully determine a date, as well as what angle the meteorite entered the
atmosphere. Other vital information includes lab work that will determine the
level of radioactivity within the rock. This is caused by prolonged exposure
to cosmic rays, which allows scientists to determine how long the meteorite
was in space, said Alan Hildrebrand, professor of geology and geophysics at
the University of Calgary.
Received on Wed 07 Aug 2002 10:45:06 AM PDT