[meteorite-list] The "Old Woman" Meteorite, updates III, IV, and V ;-)

From: David Freeman <dfreeman_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:32:53 2004
Message-ID: <4062F78A.8080606_at_fascination.com>

Dear Adam, Mike, List,
I found my tentative "rock springs" on BLM lands. When I came forward
after 4+ years of public land meteorite hunting with the local BLM and
state level BLM's knowledge of my hunting and scientific gathering
knowledge, at 0745 first minutes open after a holiday, I said to acting
District Manager, Mr. Ted Murphy, "here's your meteorite, what's your
pleasure" and he responded in front of a half dozen fascinated BLM
employee/rock enthusiasts, "Do the science, and keep it, it's yours."
Now a year later, it is classified as an L-6 S-2 W-2 by Dr. Alan Ruben
at UCLA where the type specimen is located, voting on the name "rock
springs" will be very soon, and the meteorite is now on voluntary
display at local BLM HQ along with my fascinating local petrified wood
display.
I think with my meeting my local level BLM on the front end four years
prior to finding this one, and being on the front end of science as my
main program, the local and state offices here are rather pleased at
what could have caused them concern and grief had I not acted in their
good faith from the early days (well relatively so) of public land
meteorite hunting. My first contacts were met with "file a claim" from
the state level BLM until I cited the "OLD WOMAN" case, offered Mr.
Norton's wonderful book as reading to the BLM geologists, and the
response has been great for me here. I am encouraged to hunt here.
For further reading on my story, see April and August Meteorite Times
articles, collector of the month and Bob's Findings.
Sincerely,
Dave Freeman
Wyoming Meteorite Recovery Team Leader
(hunting season is nearly ready as mud is drying up, and it hasn't
snowed in a week)

Michael Farmer wrote:

> Adam, simple, if it is found on Government land, the law says turn it in.
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: Adam Hupe <mailto:adamhupe_at_comcast.net>
>
> To: meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
> <mailto:meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 8:59 PM
>
> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] The "Old Woman" Meteorite, updates
> III, IV, and V ;-)
>
>
> Dear List,
>
>
>
> We are looking for some advice. Say a pairing was found to the
> Old Woman iron meteorite. What would be the best course of action?
>
>
>
> 1.) Donate it to the BLM Desert Discovery Center.
>
> 2.) Donate it to the Smithsonian.
>
> 3.) Withhold it from the BLM.
>
> 4.) Try to prove a point by taking the BLM to court and risk loosing.
>
> 5.) Keep it and not say a word.
>
> 6.) Announce it the press and see what happens.
>
> 7.) None of the above.
>
>
>
> All the best,
>
>
>
> Adam
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From:Sharkkb8_at_aol.com <mailto:Sharkkb8@aol.com>
>
> To: meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
> <mailto:meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 4:30 PM
>
> Subject: [meteorite-list] The "Old Woman" Meteorite, updates
> III, IV, and V ;-)
>
>
> A few times over the years I've posted bits and pieces
> regarding the saga of the "Old Woman", the wonderful large
> (2,750 kg!) IIAB iron meteorite from the mountains of San
> Bernardino County, which has had a colorful legal history, and
> which has mostly recently resided at the Desert Discovery
> Center in Barstow, CA.
>
>
>
> http://members.aol.com/sharkkb8/oldwoman.jpg
>
>
>
> Every time I would drive through the Mojave desert to-or-from
> Las Vegas or wherever, I would stop and check up on it,
> usually speaking with either a very sweet, older woman or her
> son, the two of whom seemed to be single-handedly (and on an
> essentially volunteer-basis) trying to keep the Center
> afloat. They both expressed unconcealed frustration at
> getting the cooperation, funding, and staffing necessary to
> keep the Center going. A few visits ago, the woman had died,
> and her son's frustration level had greatly increased, to the
> point where he was pacing and muttering and seemed really
> quite agitated at the subject of dealing with (according to
> him) the bureaucracy and noncooperation of the BLM.
>
>
>
> On my next trip some months later, the Center's doors
> were padlocked, no operating hours were posted, and the
> surrounding area had clearly not even been swept up recently.
> Looking through the glass, I could see that the meteorite was
> still within, but obviously no attention was being paid to the
> building.
>
>
>
> In a pleasantly-surprising reversal, when I just stopped
> by yesterday afternoon, the Center was not only open, but the
> displays had been updated and spruced up considerably.
> Schoolchildren's posters and drawings of the meteorite adorned
> the walls. I wandered around for a while and never did run
> into anyone who appeared to be in charge of the premises,
> perhaps it was a moment when they were "in the back" at lunch
> or something.
>
>
>
> So this is the view from an "outsider"....I'm wondering if
> anyone has any news from within, about the status of the
> building, the meteorite, or who's now running the show,
> regarding this California treasure.
>
>
>
> Bob V.? (You've been the Old Woman "Answer-Man" for these
> posts in the past....;-)
>
>
>
> Gregory
>
> J. Gregory Wilson
> 2118 Wilshire Blvd. #918
> Santa Monica, CA 90403
>
Received on Thu 25 Mar 2004 10:15:22 AM PST