[meteorite-list] NWA 12-18-1950 Chudd Crater Discovered

From: MARK BOSTICK <thebigcollector_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon Jan 17 18:30:11 2005
Message-ID: <BAY4-F5AAB06052708219E11F59B38E0_at_phx.gbl>

Paper: Reno Gazette
City: Reno, Nevada
Date: Monday, December 18, 1950
Page: 4

Meteorite Crater? Stories of Skies
By J. HUGH PRUETT
Astronomer, Extension Division,
Oregon Migher Education System

     Huge depressions surrounded by high rims of broken rock and situated on
otherwise level plains have been found In several places on the earth. In
recent times it seems certain that these have been blasted out by the
descent of stony or metallic missiles from the great inter-planetary spaces.
     The best known of about a dozen such holes is the famous Barringer
Meteorite crater in Arizona, an almost circular depression approximately
4000 feet across. The top of the rim varies from 120 to 160 feet above the
surrounding plain and the inside floor is about 600 feet below the rim.
Terrific upheaval of the original strata occurred at the time of impact for
huge boulders, some as large as an ordinary house, make up a considerable
part of the rim. In the rim and scattered for miles around on the plain,
tons of metallic meteorites have been found.
     Now we learn of another crater, recently discovered in the
north-western part of Quebec sound of Baffin Island, which dwarfs
considerably the Arizona depression. It is about 2 ½ miles across from rim
to rim, and the top of the rim stands 550 feet above the plain. Unlike the
Arizona crater, this latest depression contains a lake, the surface of which
is somewhat higher than the surfaces of the numerous small lakes in the
surrounding plain. Last June when it was first examined by a scientific
expedition, the water surface in places was covered by ice three feet thick.
     It is said that this crater, which is located in an unfrequented part
of the world, was first noted on aerial photographs by a prospector Fred W.
Chubb. This was reported to the Globe-Telegram of Toronto. This paper was
instrumental in organizing a scientific expedition, which included Dr. V.
Ben Meen of the Royal Ontario museum.
     Although no meteorites have been found among the boulders of rim or on
the surrounding plain during the short preliminary investigation, Dr. Meen
feels quite certain the formation is due to the action of a huge meteorite
and is not volcanic in nature. He believes the tearing from the plain of
likely ten billions of tons of granite which forms the rim, took place
sometime between 1000 and 3000 B.C. Further study is planned next summer
when magnetic methods will be used to try to locate meteoritical material
and to determine if a large mass is likely beneath the lake. The scientists
are sure no glacial action has taken place since the crater was formed.
     The explorers hoped they were the first campers ever in that locality,
but the finding of a tin can blasted their hopes. One member in anger threw
it away. Later when they wanted to see if it contained a message, they could
not find it.
     Excellent pictures of the crater and the exploring party are carried in
the October number of Griffith Observer published in Los Angeles. Time for
Aug. 14 and other publications discussed the subject.

(end)

Clear Skies,
Mark Bostick
Wichita, Kansas
http://www.meteoritearticles.com
http://www.kansasmeteoritesociety.com
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PDF copy of this article, and most I post (and about 1/2 of those on my
website), is available upon e-mail request.

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Received on Mon 17 Jan 2005 06:29:30 PM PST