Local strewnfields / field help

[Cosmopassion]

I apologise for taking your time on this matter, but perhaps a few individuals may help me out.

Currently I live in Washington state, and collecting meteorites is a passion of mine. Currently, I am having significant troubles finding serious locations where I may find meteorites. I have observed the growth of this forum for near a month now, and have scoured the internet for endless hours every day. I have concluded there are NO strewnfields near or in Washington. There are plenty of falls, but no strewnfields.

I understand the importance of keeping locations secret, and the possible consequences of telling a new face about a favorite spot.

Nonetheless, I find myself humbly asking:

Is there by chance any meteorite hunter in this forum, who wouln't mind setting me off in the right direction? What strewnfield will yield the highest chance of finding a meteorite?

*Is there anyone interested in an extra hand on the fields (OVER THE SUMMER).* :bowdown:

I would be honored just to receive hunting tips from a seasoned hunter.

Again, I am sorry for taking the space and time in this forum for such a request. I have found no other source, of plausible help.

[fredmason]

Cosmo, as you have read here, the Franconia andd Gold Basin fields are still producing and would most likely be your best bet. A strewnfield only results from a meteor breaking up as it comes through the atmosphere...most are consumed or are very tiny if they survive to become meteorites. I don't know of any fields in Washington but you could be the one to locate the first documented site...The dry eastern side of Washington is more likely than the wet western side...You might contact some universities and see if they have any field studies in progress that you can participate in...but they will get all the goodies!!!

It is not likely anyone doing this for money will take you to a new and producing field but it does happen.

Good luck, sorry for the word-y answer but you asked a lot of questions.

Fred

[Mr Hunter Man]

Have a look at this. these are all of the meteorites found in the state of Washington. Maybe you could get lucky and find more.

http://tin.er.usgs.gov/meteor/metbull.php

Happy Hunting,

Joe Kerchner

[Cosmopassion]

Cosmo, as you have read here, the Franconia andd Gold Basin fields are still producing and would most likely be your best bet. A strewnfield only results from a meteor breaking up as it comes through the atmosphere...most are consumed or are very tiny if they survive to become meteorites. I don't know of any fields in Washington but you could be the one to locate the first documented site...The dry eastern side of Washington is more likely than the wet western side...You might contact some universities and see if they have any field studies in progress that you can participate in...but they will get all the goodies!!!

It is not likely anyone doing this for money will take you to a new and producing field but it does happen.

Good luck, sorry for the word-y answer but you asked a lot of questions.

Fred

Thanks for the response. I did ask a large number of questions, yes.

Honestly, I would enjoy being a helping hand for somebody experienced. Anything I find, goes to the person teaching me. Just the field knowledge is what I am aiming for right now.

I am optimistic that people are generous. :icon_mrgreen:

[Cosmopassion]

Have a look at this. these are all of the meteorites found in the state of Washington. Maybe you could get lucky and find more.

http://tin.er.usgs.gov/meteor/metbull.php

Happy Hunting,

Joe Kerchner

Ah yes, my favorite site. In fact, two meteorites have hit local farms in my area. One was 7km away, the other 8km I do believe. The only reason I havent gone out and asked for permission to scour the farm lands, is that the falls were individual meteorites.

Then again, I acknowledge I could get lucky and find another individual.

Unfortunately, I havn't a metal detector yet. :coffeetime:

[Guest meteorite-hunter]

Hi,

I have to agree with Joe to look up the locations where meteorites have been found and check the areas.

Most likely in wet areas the meteorites will start to rust quicker than it would happen in the desert lands.

Greg Stanley, one of the members here on this forum, has been doing his searches this way and he has been lucky with nine finds all together since only summer last year.

So as long as you go out and search you have a chance. :-)

Good luck,

Moni

[John B.]

Hi Cosmopassion and All

If you have a metal detector you are 2/3rds there :innocent0002: . There are a number of Washington State Finds :confused0013: . They can be looked up in the Catalog of Meteorites By Dr Monica Grady Natural History Musuem UK. Another source is ARNS Astronamical Research Network Study By Kenneth Regalman. Both of these are complete listings to the date of thier publications of all known finds or falls.More recent can be found by searching The Meteoritical bulliten !! Alot of the older pre 1980s locations will probably be incorrect and coordinates to the name sake ( town, lake ,mountain etc) all the newer coordinates should be reasonably accurate. However there may be a chance with some research you can locate the finder or family members and get details not nessicarily known by the meteorite community. Oddly most of the finds made are only the large or obvios pieces but most certainly they all have strewnfields that are waiting to be found by a persistant hunter armed with a detector :icon_mrgreen: . Unfortunatly they require some hunting in the battleship game style to pick up the strewnfield if it has survived the ages. By Battleship I mean hunting a few miles from the find sight to the north then south then east then west then imbetween till pieces are found and a direction can be determined. Strewnfields can be many miles long and several miles wiide :hmmmmmm: . No doubt most of the known finds in fact have strewnfields yet to be discovered with a bounty of additional material. Access to private property and remote areas and the heaps of trash that is so abundantly left by our forfathers makes for a challanging hunt but I would venture to guess at least 90% of all existing finds are only scratching the surface of the materail that awaites discovery !! Happy Huntin John B.

[Regmaglitch]

Hi,

I have been to eastern Washington State and thought it would be a great place for meteorite hunting. In fact, I would consider the area "wide open" for new finds.

Also, I think you'd be better served if you got a detector first, and learned how to use it before you start heading for known strewn fields. I have seen many people armed with very expensive detectors come back empty handed and tell he that an area is hunted out. Then I go to that same area and pull out a handful of chondrites with my older cheaper detectors. The thing is, they havn't learned how to metal detect. Rule#1) this is VERY important: LEARN YOUR MACHINE!!!!! Rule #2) the ONLY difference between you and the "experts" is TIME IN THE FIELD!!!! I am not lucky. I am hard working and persistant. You can "make" your own luck, so start now. Get out and hunt. Just like gold prospecting, there is a learning curve, the sooner you start hunting, the sooner you'll be over the curve.

(whoops! lost my balance and almost fell off my soapbox!)

Nuff Said, Ben