[meteorite-list] NP Article, 04-1948 Nininger and Meteor Crater

From: MARK BOSTICK <thebigcollector_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:18:25 2004
Message-ID: <OE284Iu1B6gVs1tIzmQ00011996_at_hotmail.com>

Paper: Nashua Telegraph
City: Nashua, New Hampshire
Date: Saturday, April 03, 1948
Science section


Arizona Meteorite Census Needs Record of Souvenirs

By Science Service

     A census of immigrants from outer space is being taken. Many of those
bits of iron and stone, that fell onto our planet thousands of years ago,
have been moved from Arizona's famous crater to all parts of the globe.
     If you have a meteorite that was collected from Canyon Diablo, or know
where one is, give science a boost by reporting it to the American Meteorite
Museum at Winslow, Ariz. The director, Dr. H. H. Nininger, is trying to
determine the total quantity of meteoritic material that once lay in and
around the crater.
     The crater itself is about four-fifths of a mile across. Its walls are
120 to 170 feet above the surrounding plain and the floor is 400 feet below
it. Around the crater great quantites of meteoritic iron have been found,
some of the pieces weighing several hundred pounds each, and one over 1400
pounds.

Souvenir Hunters

     Enthusiastic collectors and souvenir hunters have already taken away
thousands of pounds of meteoritic material - possibly as much as 60,000
pounds. Today a sample is rarely found on the surface. Electrical and
magnetic detecting devices have helped locate sizable chunks buried down to
two feet below the surface, and they too have been removed. In a few more
years the region may be stripped entirely of meteorites.
     Despite persistent research throughout the years for a deeply buried
meteorite that may be found in the crater, to date no sizable meteorite has
been located. This has led some scientists to question its origin by impact
from an enormous projectile from outer space.

Field Survey

     Dr. Nininger is now making so extensive field survey to locate such
meteorites as still remain to the surrounding plain and in the rim. Should
the meteorites be found to lie in a symmetrical pattern, as explosion at the
time of impact would be indicated. Random distribution of the material
would suggest that it was left at the same time as the core which produced
the actual crater and they were all part of the same swarm of missiles from
outer space.
     To supplement his field survery, he is compiling a complete list of
meteoritic material taken from the crater's vicinity. Those who know of the
whereabouts of these meteorites are asked to report:
     1. Name and location of collection, or of individual who has them. 2.
Number of Canyon Diablo meteorite specimens in the collection. 3. Their
total weight. 4. Individual weights of all specimens of five pounds or more.
     Or if you know of any nickel-iron meteorite, the source of which is not
known for sure, stat eits approximate size and whereabouts. Dr. Nininger
may be able to establish its identity. (Copyrighti, 1948, Science Service).
Received on Tue 04 Feb 2003 11:47:59 PM PST