[meteorite-list] Wisconsin Meteorite Trip Report

From: Robert Verish <bolidechaser_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 27 May 2010 04:14:40 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <115510.83328.qm_at_web51701.mail.re2.yahoo.com>

Wisconsin Meteorite Trip Report - R. Verish - May 27, 2010

Hello List,

This post reports on my Wisconsin Meteorite search efforts from earlier this month.
The focus of this effort was an attempt to extend the ?known? strewn field in both directions ? east and west, using images of NOAA-NWS Doppler radar weather data that were generated by Rob Matson. Some of these images can be viewed on my webpage, here:

http://meteorite-recovery.tripod.com/2010/may10.htm

These same images and data were supplied by Rob to Sonny Clary, as well, and as it turns out, even though we were hunting independently, we were conducting our searches at the same time and in the same general area, but on neighboring farms. Sonny returned home before I departed the strewn field and has already posted his very well-written ?trip report?. Since many of my observations only serve to corroborate what Sonny has already reported, my report will be shorter. So for reference, here is a link to Sonny?s previous ?trip report?:

http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/meteorite-list/2010-May/064913.html

Started my search in Lafayette County in a township known as Willow Springs by contacting eyewitnesses and farmers in order to obtain permission to walk their property. This part of my job was made easier (inadvertently) by Sonny, who preceded me by a day and had already explained to the property owners our mission. Continued to cross paths with Sonny until we accidentally met near the courthouse in Darlington. We talked briefly, exchanging field notes and discussing hunting strategy. I had no Wisconsin finds to show him, but I did get to closely examine Brix?s find from his earlier trip. All that I had to show for my efforts, up to this point, was a sack-full of morels:

http://meteorite-recovery.tripod.com/2010/wi/dsc01268morrel.jpg

It was at this point that I decided it was time to pay a visit to the other end of the strewn field. I attempted to extend the ?known? strewn field (at that time) to the west of Highway 80 in an area known as the ?Amish Farm?. These folk were quite friendly and very inquisitive about meteorites and meteors, as were all of the other farmers that I met. They helped me get in contact with the neighboring farmers. One farm had a particularly strong Doppler radar reflection centered over it in a satellite image. Although I hiked a lot of this area, there were many fields that were too lush with vegetation or were recently planted.

Encouraged by the announcement of the location for Michael Cottingham?s 105 gram find, I now focused my search in areas to the east of Hwy 151, and with the hope that there would be a continued repeat in the pattern that I noticed in the clusters of finds from ?up trend? in the strewn field. So, I selected areas to search that were 3 miles farther down the trend of the flight path, and that were located under strong Doppler radar reflections as depicted in Rob Matson?s satellite images.

In this area, there were fields of alfalfa, grass, and rye starting to get cut, and I felt encouraged that, if given more time, a meteorite find could have been eventually made. But on this leg of my trip, I again made no finds and I failed to extend the strewn field.

Now, I had to return to the airport at Madison to pick-up my met-hunting partner, Greg Stanley. So, the next morning with a fresh pair of eyes and legs we started our search anew. Greg?s plan was to start in the middle of the strewn field and work outwards. Prior to Greg?s arrival, I had already selected farms that were in the process of cutting-chopping-bailing grass and obtained prior-approval to hunt those fields from the farmers.

Long-story-short, I finally made a find! It is a 31 gram fragment with 3 sides of fusion-crust, 2 sides of fresh-broken surface, and 1 side that has faint evidence of a short-duration, secondary f-c melting event. It was found in a freshly cut hay field right in the middle of the strewn field and right on the generally-accepted trend line. And, of course, I waited until my last day (before Greg and I were to depart for home) to make our one and only find from this fall. My track-record for being a first-rate procrastinator remains unblemished.

http://meteorite-recovery.tripod.com/2010/wi/dsc01425find-b.jpg

Before departing, I invited Keith Jenkerson (who, along with Dana, were staying at a neighboring farm) to use his metal-detector and try his luck at finding the missing pieces to my fragment at the find location. He was unable to detect any of the missing pieces, but for his effort he was rewarded ? he made his 2nd WI find [~15g] while walking back to meet Dana.

http://meteorite-recovery.tripod.com/2010/wi/dsc01453jenkerson2.jpg

Later that last night, Greg and I gave farmer Wade a ride back to his farm and shared some beers with him at his ?ground zero? shed. Then we all went over to the neighboring farm where Keith and Dana were staying, where we celebrated our good luck that day, and celebrated our good luck at making friends with such great people and in being able to share with them their new strewn field.

Departure the next day was bittersweet. It would be good to get back home. But it seemed like such a waste to leave, particularly after obtaining all that hard-learned expertise, and after meeting all those farmers, and making new friends, and especially while there were new hay fields being cut!

It won?t take very long for all that vegetation to grow back. The crops will quickly grow to maturity, and all the while the farmers will be continually busy driving their tractors in those fields.

On Wisconsin!
Bob Verish

P.S. ? more images will be posted on my webpage:
http://meteorite-recovery.tripod.com/2010/june10.htm
Received on Thu 27 May 2010 07:14:40 AM PDT