[meteorite-list] Hunting Meteorites, Some of Nininger's Thoughts

From: almitt <almitt_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:06:13 2004
Message-ID: <3DC402DE.DBF44F82_at_kconline.com>

Harvey Nininger was one of the most successful meteorite hunters of all times. Here
are some of his ideas that have been taken out of his great book "Find A Falling
Star".

Meteorites are where you find them. Many people had suggested that looking for
meteorites in areas where rocks are abundant might be a good idea but Harvey suggested
that looking in areas where there are no rocks or few rocks are best. He figured that
a hunter would grow tired of looking at every rock where they are plentiful. While he
was searching for the Archie, Missouri fall of August 10th, 1932 and driving back and
forth between there and Kansas City (some fifty miles) he noticed about midway that
there laid a group of farm houses and nicely cleared fields with no rocks in sight.
One day when he had some spare time he decided to conduct a search to show that
meteorites fall in one area as well as the next (something that wasn't know then, for
sure). He interviewed a number of farmers and showed them some of his meteorite finds
and purchases and mentioned the likelihood that such stones might also be on their
farms. He also mentioned a fair price would be offered for such stones found and
brought to his attention. He spent two or three hours with a dozen or more farmers
that day.

A few days later the wife of the first farmer he had talked to came to see Harvey and
brought with her a meteorite from the farm. Harvey had talked mostly to this wife
while the farmer stood mostly silent and he wasn't sure if he was resentful of him
interrupting the chores or if he was thinking. After Harvey had left the farmer had
told his wife he was sure he had ploughed up such a stone and was trying to remember
the spot. He finally remember he had ploughed it up in the potato patch and thrown it
over by the hedge they had. As soon as the neighbors heard of the payment received for
the stone, many searched their own properties and found more stones from the same
fall. Nininger figured they were probably related to the fireball witnessed in 1915
around that area. The stones became known as the Harrisonville stones.

This experience reinforced Nininger's belief that meteorites were present though not
abundant, nearly everywhere and they can be found in some quantity if people are shown
what to look for. He later found material from the Archie, Missouri fall while giving
lecturing to high schools in the area. One of which fell in a stream bed that a local
high school boy was at when he was squirrel hunting. Three members of the same family
had heard and witnessed this fall.

Source: Find a Falling Star by Harvey H. Nininger

--AL
Received on Sat 02 Nov 2002 11:52:47 AM PST