[meteorite-list] NPA 08-26-1948 (Norton) Meteorite's Digging Completed, Theft
From: MARK BOSTICK <thebigcollector_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue Oct 19 11:16:11 2004 Message-ID: <BAY4-F14crYP0QzBxhJ00035662_at_hotmail.com> Paper: Nebraska State Journal City: Lincoln, Nebraska Date: Thursday, August 26, 1948 Page: 13 Meteorite's Digging Is Completed Guards Posted After Theft BEAVER CITY, Neb. (AP) Scientists Wednesday disclosed that a piece had been stolen from a three-ton meteorite discovered recently on a farm near here. They promptly dubbed it a case of "celestial larceny." The theft occurred the first night after the find was reported. Since then guards have been stationed at the site each night. SCIENTISTS from the University of Nebraska, New Mexico and California Wednesday completed the task of digging out and encasing the meteorite in plaster of paris. A Cambridge trucker, Louis Dixon, is to transport it to Albuquerque, N.M., where it will be divided. The Universities of Nebraska and New Mexico have purchased the specimen, described as the largest fragment of an achondritic meteorite ever found. The meteorite fell on the farm of Mrs. Helen Whitney, south of here, last Feb. 18. It was not discovered until Aug. 16, however. THE METEORITE hole was about six feet in diameter when discovered during harvest by Arthur Hahn, Norton, Kas., farm operator, and E. O. Gill or Wilsonville. The hole was about 31 feet deep. Dr. Lincoln Lapaz, director of the institute of meteorics of the University of New Mexico, was the first to investigate. He had been conducting extensive research work along the southern Nebraska and northern Kansas borders. DR. LAPAZ said that study of fallen meteorites "is very valuable," and is closely related to rocket study. It is believed the meteorite is a small part of the outer boundary of a disintegrated planet, originally moving in the region between Mars and Jupiter. The New Mexico man pointed out that the consistency of the meteorite is unusual in that it can be easily broken or crushed. It contained unusually large deposits of nickel iron, from 50 to 60 times larger than any deposits heretofore found in fallen meteorites, he said. The Cambridge area has had more museum scientists working in the an attempt to uncover historic finds than any other area of the United States, Dr. C. Bertrand Schultz, director of the state museum at the University of Nebraska, said. (end) Clear Skies, Mark Bostick www.meteoritearticles.com Received on Tue 19 Oct 2004 11:11:35 AM PDT |
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