Franconia Strewn field

[Bghunter1]

Looking for directions to the Franconia Stringfield I am here now outside of Franconia off I 40 can anyone help me please?

[clay]

Take a look on this forum thread for the strewn field.   Scroll down to Uncle Ron's post from November 23, 2014. Several resources there to get you started.

You can also look over the MetBul map so you can see what the land ownership is there and avoid trespassing.

I think the string field is somewhere near the corn palace in South Dakota ...  unless they raked it up.

Edited February 8, 2020 by clay

[frank c]

BGHUNTER,  the I-40 is running thru the middle from east to west.
The EXIT is marked on left by the Interstate Shield in red pen.
As you can see the area is fairly large, theres plenty of room for a newbie to wander.
ALL the little arrows were recovered pieces as of 2006.
Hapy Huntn 
Photo Map credit James Smaller R.I.P. my friend.

[fredmason]

There have been several different types of meteorites found in that area....dig everything!  Some very pretty irons have been found, most are small.

fred

[Morlock]

12 hours ago, fredmason said:

There have been several different types of meteorites found in that area....dig everything!  Some very pretty irons have been found, most are small.

fred

Is it possible to have several types or classifications from a single meteorite fall? 

It would seem improbable to have several different types from different falls in the same area although it could certainly be possible.

[Bedrock Bob]

2 hours ago, Morlock said:

Is it possible to have several types or classifications from a single meteorite fall? 

It would seem improbable to have several different types from different falls in the same area although it could certainly be possible.

In eastern New Mexico there are hundreds of individual falls in a relatively small area. It is not about one strewn field with different meteorites but rather very ancient ground that had remained the same for eons of time. This preserved stones from many falls over a long period.

Same with Antarctica for a slightly different reason. The slowly moving ice actually concentrates them. 

So there are many areas where different falls and finds are located in the same general area.

The entire earth is covered with meteorites. The average ground does not preserve them for a long time. But some spots stay more stable and every meteorite that has fallen for thousands of years is preserved at the surface.

Multiple different types in one area can be about hunter pressure too. If you get a large group of hunters hammering any favorable area it will eventually result in multiple finds. Franconia is a great example. Lea County and Antarctica are prime examples as well.

Different types of meteorites are found where the surface hasn't changed in millenia. Where the surface is concentrating. And where hordes of hunters look. This is the recipe for differing classifications in a certain location.

As far as different "classifications" from a single fall I am not sure. I think it is semantics. In my favorite area there are irons (siderites) and stony irons (pallasite) from a single fall. They come from the same fall and host body but are "classified" as two distinct types. So there is that. I guess it all depends on your individual definition of "classification".

At Canyon Diablo there are three distinct materials from a single fall.  I am certain they are "classified" as different stuff but are also "classified" as the same meteorite.

I remember we had a discussion on the term "bolide" one time... You interpreted that word as one thing and I interpreted it as another. This might be a similar discussion.

 

 

[fredmason]

Thanks Bob

Morlock

the short answer is Yes. The Franconia area was renamed because of the different types....the information is here somewhere....you can find it if you want.

fred

 

[Mikestang]

Be careful there if you're alone, especially if you've never been before.  The terrain is unforgiving, and although the Mojave Greens should mostly be hibernating this time of year it's still dangerous snake country.

Edited February 10, 2020 by Mikestang

[fredmason]

If you search for Buck Mountain Dense Collection Area there are several sites to read.  You may also search for Yucca DCA....

have fun

[Morlock]

On 2/9/2020 at 9:01 AM, Bedrock Bob said:

In eastern New Mexico there are hundreds of individual falls in a relatively small area. It is not about one strewn field with different meteorites but rather very ancient ground that had remained the same for eons of time. This preserved stones from many falls over a long period.

 

 

The most prominent meteorite hunter in this area just has to be Skip Wilson. He's amassed a collection of hundreds of finds including  Portales Valley which almost hit his house. Talk about luck with that find. All he had to do was walk out the front door and pick them up.

[Bedrock Bob]

1 hour ago, Morlock said:

The most prominent meteorite hunter in this area just has to be Skip Wilson. He's amassed a collection of hundreds of finds including  Portales Valley which almost hit his house. Talk about luck with that find. All he had to do was walk out the front door and pick them up.

I have met him. He started as an arrowhead hunter in the blowouts. 

Dean Miera and I had plans to hunt with him. We were setting the date when Dean died. I never made the trip.

One of these days im going to look him up again. 

...one of these days...

[frank c]

I think Bghunter musta give up an gone home...………………………………………..

[Au Seeker]

11 hours ago, frank c said:

I think Bghunter musta give up an gone home...………………………………………..

He was last on the forum.......the day he posted his question!

[Billyazprospector]

On 2/13/2020 at 3:47 PM, Bedrock Bob said:

I have met him. He started as an arrowhead hunter in the blowouts. 

Dean Miera and I had plans to hunt with him. We were setting the date when Dean died. I never made the trip.

One of these days im going to look him up again. 

...one of these days...

Miss me some Dean... Bedrock do you know what ever happened to his large Glorieta find?

[Bedrock Bob]

4 minutes ago, Billyazprospector said:

Miss me some Dean... Bedrock do you know what ever happened to his large Glorieta find?

No I don't. He told me he had sent it to be cut several weeks before the accident. That is the last we discussed it.

 

[GotAU?]

Hey guys, I’m actually out here right now in Franconia. There’s rail work going on and the guys said we couldn’t cross over to get the BLM roads and the crossings are marked private no trespassing. Anybody have any experience with that? We may have to walk further than I thought unless someone has a good idea on how to get to the northern end of this strewn field. Going commando may mess it up for everyone else if we cause an issue, so Id rather play it safe and maybe go south unless theres a good option. Thanks!

Edited May 2, 2020 by GotAU?

[Dakota Slim]

13 hours ago, GotAU? said:

Hey guys, I’m actually out here right now in Franconia. There’s rail work going on and the guys said we couldn’t cross over to get the BLM roads and the crossings are marked private no trespassing. Anybody have any experience with that? We may have to walk further than I thought unless someone has a good idea on how to get to the northern end of this strewn field. Going commando may mess it up for everyone else if we cause an issue, so Id rather play it safe and maybe go south unless theres a good option. Thanks!

Those signs and the crossings are on the north side of the interstate, correct? What about the south side? The north side has always been a pita to get to. 

Edited May 3, 2020 by Dakota Slim

[GotAU?]

3 hours ago, Dakota Slim said:

Those signs and the crossings are on the north side of the interstate, correct? What about the south side? The north side has always been a pita to get to. 

Hi, well, we got through no issue- there are signs posted on the crossings, so user beware and be respectful and careful.  We didn't go south on this trip.  Had a really nice day and and got some nice florescent  Minerals as well as some meteorwrongs ;)

[frank c]

A person should AVOID being seen crossing the RR.
The trains there are about 17 minutes apart, giving plenty of time to self motivate into position.
I was taught by Jim Smaller to avoid being seen as the RR can cause you some problems.
And you are breaking the law.
 

[GotAU?]

6 hours ago, frank c said:

A person should AVOID being seen crossing the RR.
The trains there are about 17 minutes apart, giving plenty of time to self motivate into position.
I was taught by Jim Smaller to avoid being seen as the RR can cause you some problems.
And you are breaking the law.
 

You are absolutely right.

For others interested in going there: there are two main tracks and a third siding there, with lots of train activity in both directions, and currently maintenance going on (as of 5/2/20),  so it was very frequent that we saw trains, workers and other railroad vehicles in the crossing area.  I was expecting to see “right to pass revocable at anytime” signs like I’ve seen on some other BLM trail crossings elsewhere, hence my concerns.

Here’s another alternative we used that would be great for those doing a quick trip there instead of driving over the tracks.  One can access the strewn field on BLM land adjacent to the tracks on the north side by driving north on Franconia Road to the middle of the Franconia Wash crossing before you get to the railroad, and driving up the wash (sandy, 4wd may be needed) for about 2.1 miles to the strewn field. Use the trails in the wash, not the dirt road right next to the railroad.  Park within the strewn field area on the north side of the wash, and walk north through the drainage culverts under the tracks to get to the other side (there are two places with culverts).  These gave us very good access without any track issues.  Obviously, don’t try this during rainy weather!’

Edited May 3, 2020 by GotAU?
Directions edit

[GotAU?]

@frank c  By the way,  thank you for sharing James’ map, that was very kind of you.  And when and if I do ever find one there or elsewhere, would certainly have it identified and  recorded properly.

Edited May 3, 2020 by GotAU?

[GotAU?]

@frank c or @Bedrock Bob Another question about Franconia finds-  is hot and magnetic rhyolite common at Franconia?  It seems that most of the materials I found With my VLF detector on the north were probably that.  I do have one suspect piece that I want to research more... Do you have any links to closeup images of the internals of any Franconia chondrites, or thin section images of them?  Thanks!

Edited May 4, 2020 by GotAU?

[frank c]

Lots of basalt an rhyolite around N.W. Az.

Go to Metbull search for Franconia and the other description yuccas and see photos at bottom of each page.

1st hand info is best.

Instead of random pics on internet.

[Bedrock Bob]

1 hour ago, GotAU? said:

@frank c or @Bedrock Bob Another question about Franconia finds-  is hot and magnetic rhyolite common at Franconia?  It seems that most of the materials I found With my VLF detector on the north were probably that.  I do have one suspect piece that I want to research more... Do you have any links to closeup images of the internals of any Franconia chondrites, or thin section images of them?  Thanks!

I have zero experience at Franconia. So I could not offer anything on the subject. Holbrook is about as far west as my meteorite hunting extends.

Sorry!

[GotAU?]

3 hours ago, frank c said:

Lots of basalt an rhyolite around N.W. Az.

Go to Metbull search for Franconia and the other description yuccas and see photos at bottom of each page.

1st hand info is best.

Instead of random pics on internet.

Hi Bob, sorry- I though you had been since were mentioned in earlier posts about it.  

And thanks Frank, I was really interested in seeing what it looks like in thin section- and some were made of the Yucca specimens according to records on the Metbull site.  I appreciate the reference!