AZ4AU Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Hello All, As many of you know Jim (aka Paleface) is going through some hard times so we have come up with an idea. Those of you that Jim has taught, helped, or hunted with; if you could put together a story of what he means to you along with any pictures, Sawmill and 29 Prospector will put them into a book of momentos and present it to him. Send all information to: 29prospector@verizon.net Thanks, OL'29er Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29 Prospector Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 Hello All,As many of you know Jim (aka Paleface) is going through some hard times so we have come up with an idea. Those of you that Jim has taught, helped, or hunted with; if you could put together a story of what he means to you along with any pictures, Sawmill and 29 Prospector will put them into a book of momentos and present it to him.Thanks,OL'29erAs we all know Jim has moved on to a new life before Greg and I could finish our project. So I will post what we have and I would ask those of you who would like to post you stories or experiences with our Brother Jim please do so. The stories I am posting are unedited. I feel that they should in the present as he is in our hearts.OL'29er Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29 Prospector Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 I first met Jim Smaller in Gold basin about 10 yrs. ago while I wasdrywashing for that YELLER METALas jim calls it and jim gave me alotof pointers on the art of drywashing which I needed as i was an realgreen horn at th art of finding gold. he told me to be sure and goover my dry wash piles as he had found a 3gm. nugget in a pile justabout a 1/4 mile below where i was working.I later spoke with Jim at a outing put on by Bill Suothern and crewand he informed me that those HOT ROCKS that I was tossing to the sidewhile detecting for gold were Mereorites.The rest of the winter in Gold Basin i collected a few smallchrondriteswhile detecting for gold and run across Jim and showed themto him. He said that they were known as l 4's I wouldn't know a l4from a b 29 i told him and he gave me a funny look and went on toexplain a little about classifications of chrondrites.About four and a half years ago Bill S,John B, Denny, Roger, Jim and abunch of other guys put on a outing at Franconia and Jim Gave a talkbefore the hunt on Chrondrite and Iorn idenity.and showed us some nicespecies.that he had with him so that we would know what we werelooking for .We split up into small groups and Denny took Maureen and I to a placeJim called the sweet spot. When we got there Denny found one rightaway and said this was the place to hunt.Maureen found a 5gm Iornabout a hour later. Just before noon I found my first FranconiaMeteorite a 114 grammer. We headed back to camp on our ATV for noonlunch and took our finds over to Jim's camp. He told Mureen that notto many find a nice iorn on the first day out. We headed back to thesame area and just before dark Maureen let out a screech and I hurriedover and she had just found what was a 371 gm chrondrite. After showingthem to Jim that evening he told Maureen that was an exceptional findfor the first day out.The following week maureen and I were back toFranconia. Yes Jim had us hooked on meteorites. In a place that Jimhad mentioned to Maureen she found three iorns.one of them was a 11.4grammer. When we showed them to Jim later on he told her to hold on tothat 11.4 gm. as it was in the top 1% of the large iorns found there.In the past few years We have run across Jim Smaller many times inGold Basin or Franconia and he always takes the time to give us somefine pointers on Meteorite huntin.Last spring Jim was in Gold Basin and came over to our camper asMaureen wanted to show him her years collection af chrondrites andiorns. Jim spent an hour or more explaning how Iorns were formed afterentering the earths atmosphere.Jim is such a great welth of information and has been awonderful teacher on meteorites to Both of us.We are looking forward to another year with Jim in Franconia and gold Basin.Get well Jim we all need you.Harry and Maureen Pitman. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29 Prospector Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 Paleface;You are a fine man and always a gentleman. Kind, courteous and patient, you always help and educate those that ask.I met you at one of the Nugget Shooter Outings where you took the time to examine my first tiny little Franconia. You gave me encouragement and helpful tips...as you have done for many people. The wealth of information you have I wish could all be mine...such a treasure!My only regret in meeting you is not being able to spend much more time in you company...you are always interesting and fun too.I hope your health improves and we can go play...someday soon.your friendFred Mason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29 Prospector Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 Hi, I met Jim only the one time while on a big hunt up at Franconia meteorite strewn field. The one thing I noticed about Jim was that he was very giving of his time and wanting to help others. He brought out pieces of the Franconia Iron and other chondrite pieces as well, to show what to look for.Jim is missed out in the field , so tell Jim to get well and stay strong. He will beat this lesion. We need you in the bush Jim. God's love for a speedy recover, your pal, jim "bones"Dr. Jim Shorten, Tombstone, AZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nugget Shooter Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 R.I.P. Jim my friend, you will be missed.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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