[meteorite-list] Bolivia Meteorite Adventure

From: Galactic Stone & Ironworks <meteoritemike_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2016 18:58:45 -0500
Message-ID: <CAKBPJW-O2i=yK5c1+a8L87GgtqxvwzAOwtir6mhyV7LrQpyeLA_at_mail.gmail.com>

Chondrite lives matter! ;)



On 12/14/16, Michael Farmer via Meteorite-list
<meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com> wrote:
> Thanks Martin:)
> Damned cops always hassling us fine folk.
> Wish you were with us with your badge.
>
> Michael Farmer
>
>> On Dec 13, 2016, at 10:25 PM, Martin Goff <msgmeteorites at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Fantastic story guys, glad to you both home safe and sound and managed to
>> get some goodies too :-)
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Martin
>>
>> Martin Goff
>> www.msg-meteorites.co.uk
>> IMCA #3387
>> Sent from my mobile phone
>>
>>> On 14 Dec 2016 05:13, "Michael Farmer via Meteorite-list"
>>> <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com> wrote:
>>> It seems like yesterday! Oh wait, it was.
>>> My suitcases are still on the living room floor.
>>> Michael Farmer
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>
>>> > On Dec 13, 2016, at 9:50 PM, Greg Hupe via Meteorite-list
>>> > <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com> wrote:
>>> >
>>> > Bolivia Meteorite Adventure
>>> > By Gregory M. Hupe
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > On November 20, 2016 a massive meteorite event took place over Aiquile,
>>> > Bolivia at approximately 5:00 p.m. local time. While still daylight,
>>> > Quechua Indian eyewitnesses saw ?corkscrew? smoke trails and heard
>>> > ?whooshing? noises followed by sonic booms and then stones literally
>>> > falling at their feet!
>>> >
>>> > Michael Farmer and I went to Aiquile to hunt for meteorites and attempt
>>> > to acquire stones from the inhabitants. Things didn?t quite work out
>>> > that way?
>>> >
>>> > Welcome to Aiquile Bolivia.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia1.jpg
>>> >
>>> > Possibly the main mass, an approximately 35-kilogram impactor.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia2.jpg
>>> >
>>> > Town Square in center of Aiquile.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia3.jpg
>>> >
>>> > Charango guitar with caballero and bull sculpture in the town square.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia4.jpg
>>> >
>>> > It would take us over two weeks after the fall to fly to Bolivia due to
>>> > Mike?s yearly show commitment in Japan. Just 24 hours at home after
>>> > returning from the show, Michael flew to Florida to meet me. On
>>> > December 8th we began our journey to South America from Miami. Our
>>> > travels would take us by air to Aiquile by way of La Paz and then on to
>>> > Cochabamba and then by private hire to Aiquile. With no sleep for over
>>> > 30 hours of travel from home to the dusty town near the strewnfield, we
>>> > were exhausted but too excited to rest. We went right to work meeting
>>> > with fellow meteorite hunter, Dario Ruiz, who had been there for two
>>> > weeks. He introduced us to individuals about hunting for meteorites or
>>> > buying some, but our hopes were quickly dampened by the news of the
>>> > town?s government putting up road blocks to deny access to the
>>> > strewnfield. It turns out that the officials were confiscating stones
>>> > from the Quechua finders which put them in a panic and afraid to talk
>>> > to outsiders. Things quickly became complicated.
>>> >
>>> > Dario, Michael and Greg in Aiquile.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia5.jpg
>>> >
>>> > View looking up the Aiquile strewnfield from the Quechua trail.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia6.jpg
>>> >
>>> > Cactus are a common beauty in the strewnfield.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia7.jpg
>>> >
>>> > We realized we were not going to be able to hunt for stones ourselves
>>> > without the threat of arrest, or far worse, physical harm from
>>> > protective villagers we were told may use force to stop outsiders from
>>> > hunting. Knowing this, we immediately went to ?Plan B? and were granted
>>> > secret meetings with owners of pieces from the fall. To our thrill and
>>> > amazement, we were able to see several stones ranging from small broken
>>> > fragments to large kilo-sized pieces. Throughout the 48-hours we were
>>> > on site we were told of several large pieces included a 50-kilo ?Puzzle
>>> > Stone? which we believe to be just rumor as is consistent with most
>>> > falls.
>>> >
>>> > Reflecting upon a fresh meteorite.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia8.jpg
>>> >
>>> > 100-plus gram fragment.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia9.jpg
>>> >
>>> > Same 100-gram fragment displaying ?Slickensides?.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia10.jpg
>>> >
>>> > Interior indicating a shocked high metal H Chondrite.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia11.jpg
>>> >
>>> > On our second day we had an early start with a scheduled meeting to see
>>> > some stones, but being on ?Bolivia time? we sat for several hours
>>> > waiting, waiting and waiting some more. To keep us from leaving and
>>> > going to other contacts, our new friend entertained us with some guitar
>>> > play dressed in his caballero ranch clothing made of javelina, lama and
>>> > other durable animal skins. Aiquile is known as the ?Capitol of
>>> > Charango? (guitar) where the guitar is manufactured. It was nice to
>>> > enjoy this flavor of music high in the mountain village.
>>> >
>>> > Local Quechua playing a Charango guitar.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia12.jpg
>>> >
>>> > Video of the music of Bolivian friendship:
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Videos/AiquileBoliviaVideo1.mp4
>>> >
>>> > Newly fallen meteorite with Charango guitar.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia13.jpg
>>> >
>>> > Noon was soon upon us with nobody bearing stones for us to consider so
>>> > we walked down the street for lunch and chose one of a few street
>>> > vendors offering potatoes and sausage. We ventured to the local market
>>> > and town square for a little tourism while we were there. The meal was
>>> > very tasty and the sightseeing was nice but we were eager to get back
>>> > to work.
>>> >
>>> > Quechua offering an assortment of foods.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia14.jpg
>>> >
>>> > Aiquile market stocked with fresh fruits.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia15.jpg
>>> >
>>> > Coca leaves, a staple of high altitude living.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia16.jpg
>>> >
>>> > Grandmother and granddaughter enjoying an afternoon in town square.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia17.jpg
>>> >
>>> > Approaching our meeting place to see the stones we noticed two
>>> > out-of-place characters on brand new mountain bikes looking our way and
>>> > pointing a cell phone towards our direction and acting like tourists.
>>> > We knew immediately they must be government officials with their shiny
>>> > bikes, mirror sunglasses and new clothing. And we thought WE stood out
>>> > in the crowd! Most Quechua don?t own bicycles in this town, and if
>>> > they did they would be very old and worn out. Entering the hotel
>>> > meeting place we were led to a wall where we were informed that a
>>> > notice was hastily taped on the wall in the darkness of night. It was
>>> > a new ?law?, or heavy suggestion as we surmised, that encouraged locals
>>> > to hand over their finds and forbid hunting for the meteorite or the
>>> > sale of them. This new ?Declaration 69? would be voted on in 60 days
>>> > at which time it would either become official law or be struck down.
>>> >
>>> > Young Quechua boy wearing chullo cap.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia18.jpg
>>> >
>>> > Small Quechua girl shopping early at the market.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia19.jpg
>>> >
>>> > Declaration 69 (Page 1).
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia20.jpg
>>> >
>>> > Declaration 69 (Page 2).
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia21.jpg
>>> >
>>> > Not wanting to tempt fate and be accused of stealing meteorites or be
>>> > set up by the ?tourists? on the mountain bikes, we decided to cut our
>>> > trip short and bug out early. We didn?t want to alert anyone of our
>>> > revised plans so we made new appointments for later that day and the
>>> > next morning. After making arrangements for an inconspicuous ?escape?
>>> > we met with our driver who quickly loaded our small amount of luggage
>>> > and he made his way through back alleys away from prying eyes. He
>>> > stopped by an out of town gas station but did not pull in like normal
>>> > but chose to park behind a large bush for concealment from the cameras
>>> > at these locations. We would later learn that some cars are stolen
>>> > from Chile and utilized in small villages in Bolivia without proper
>>> > plates or registration after the right people are paid off. After
>>> > filling the tank from a gas can we were easily permitted to travel an
>>> > old Quechua trail. The trail was a handmade cobblestone road that
>>> > threaded alongside treacherous mountains with hundreds of hairpin turns
>>> > without guardrails and lined with 1000-foot drop-offs. Many memorial
>>> > markers lined the path indicating where many souls met a terrifying
>>> > death.
>>> >
>>> > Handmade Quechua cobblestone road leading towards the mountain pass.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia22.jpg
>>> >
>>> > ?Highway to Hell?.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia23.jpg
>>> >
>>> > One of many destroyed vehicles along the Quechua trail.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia24.jpg
>>> >
>>> > Video of our route on the ?Death Road?:
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Videos/AiquileBoliviaVideo2.mp4
>>> >
>>> > After six hours of a white knuckle and frightening ride utilizing five
>>> > different vehicles, either for evasion from possible followers meaning
>>> > to do us harm or because of the ?stolen car? issue, we finally made it
>>> > to safety in Cochabamba. During our travels on the ?Highway from Hell?
>>> > as we called it, we received word of meteorites that were in Cochabamba
>>> > that we could possibly acquire.
>>> >
>>> > Three fragments of the Aiquile meteorite.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia27.jpg
>>> >
>>> > Fresh 437-gram fragment displaying black fusion crust and impact
>>> > markings.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia28.jpg
>>> >
>>> > We arrived at the pre-determined location and were escorted to a dimly
>>> > lit corridor in a downtown room without furniture. After much
>>> > negotiation in Spanish between Michael and the owner, a few pieces were
>>> > purchased. The large stone was not to be had as the owner wanted to
>>> > what amounted to the cost of a large ranch. We left content with the
>>> > few pieces we managed to get and took two different taxis to a hotel we
>>> > booked online while in route to the meeting. We took no chances of
>>> > being set up or followed. Risk of false imprisonment in South America
>>> > is high so we had to constantly be on guard and switch plans on the
>>> > spot. ?Head on a swivel? was the motto here. We managed to get a
>>> > 2-hour power nap after changing our itinerary back to the U.S. before
>>> > we had to be at the airport to fly to La Paz.
>>> >
>>> > Michael standing next to fountain town square in Cochabamba.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia29.jpg
>>> >
>>> > Greg in front of government building at town square.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia30.jpg
>>> >
>>> > Upon checking into yet another spur-of-the-moment hotel, we had a few
>>> > hours for some sightseeing around the neighborhood before getting some
>>> > rest before yet another 3:00 a.m. wake up call to catch a flight.
>>> >
>>> > Pedro Domingo Murillo Plaza in downtown La Paz.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia31.jpg
>>> >
>>> > Christmas celebration at San Francisco Plaza.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia32.jpg
>>> >
>>> > Quechua woman wearing traditional Bolo hat and attire adding color to
>>> > downtown.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia33.jpg
>>> >
>>> > After departing La Paz, with a quick stop in Santa Cruz, we flew over
>>> > the jungles of Brazil, Colombia and the northern Caribbean coast over
>>> > Barranquilla. Next was a narrow of emerald-colored sea that led us
>>> > over Jamaica and over central Cuba before delivering us to Miami.
>>> >
>>> > Flying over the jungles of Colombia.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia34.jpg
>>> >
>>> > Leaving South American airspace over Barranquilla, Colombia.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia35.jpg
>>> >
>>> > The emerald Caribbean seas embrace the island nation of Jamaica.
>>> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia36.jpg
>>> >
>>> > While most of the meteorites recovered from this fall were confiscated
>>> > by the municipal government, some of those will be put on public
>>> > display in the local museum. This means that of the very few that were
>>> > legally obtained before any overnight laws potentially go into effect,
>>> > very little will be available to the collecting community. While we
>>> > were prepared and had to bug out early due to a challenging and fluid
>>> > situation, we overcame the difficulties and returned home safely. The
>>> > Bolivia meteorite adventure was a quick thrill ride composed of;
>>> > Excitement, Frustration, Disappointment, Danger, Reward and most
>>> > importantly ? A trip we will not soon forget!
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > Best Regards,
>>> > Greg
>>> >
>>> > ====================
>>> > Greg Hupe
>>> > The Hupe Collection
>>> > gmhupe at centurylink.net
>>> > www.NaturesVault.net (Online Catalog & Reference Site)
>>> > www.LunarRock.com (Online Planetary Meteorite Site)
>>> > NaturesVault (Facebook, Pinterest & eBay)
>>> > http://www.facebook.com/NaturesVault
>>> > http://pinterest.com/NaturesVault
>>> > IMCA 3163
>>> > ====================
>>> >
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Received on Wed 14 Dec 2016 06:58:45 PM PST