Monday, May 18, 2009

The Saskatchewan (Buzzard Coulee) Meteorite Search and Recovery Part II


I was able to go out once again and look for the Buzzard Coulee Meteorite, was out a month ago with the University of Calgary research team and found 3 stones, this time I found 6 meteorites........the difference being, this go round I was able to keep them, Woo triple frigging Hoo!!

I went out with Astro-Nuts and his father, whom I have known for years through our local RASC club. We met up with a group of people who were given permission to search the landowners property. The above image is a pic of my favorite find, it has so much character. When meteors fall to the ground, this one in particular, (Buzzard Coulee) broke into thousands of tiny pieces, most of them tumble through the atmosphere before they hit the surface, the one above somehow got orientated and pointed one direction and developed flow-lines. It also has a couple cool looking thumbprints or regmaglypts, caused by vortices of hot gas burning thumbprint like impressions into the rock.(image above a domesticated meteorite, image below, what the same meteorite looks like in the wild.)




No matter how often you find these stones it's always a thrill, you are the first person on Earth to touch these rocks from space.

200x microscopic image of a flow line.

200x microscopic image of melt that occurred during entry into our atmosphere.


Search or Strewn Field.



Search Team.



Meteorite haul.

Hey there is nothing more satisfying then going to a meteorite strewn field, searching for and finding meteorites, bagging them, getting them GPSed, then taking them home to take and post pictures of for all of you, and even selling them, that's right as long as you are from Canada and you would like to purchase one I can sell them to you, but you have to be from Canada, seems the seller needs a permit if they want to sell outside Canada, odd, but once rocks from space fall in Canada they become part of our culture, go figure, another government money grab. I don't usually talk about selling stuff on this blog but if you are interested I have and have access to people with some rocks for sale at a decent price if you are so inclined.

A fun time was had by all. As I was taking microscopic images of one of my stones I also took some more polarized microscopic images of my angrite meteorite thin section and animated it for you, these extremely rare stones, some scientists believe their origin is Mercury are very cool and make as far as I'm concerned great art when crossed polarized.

83 comments:

Final_Transit said...

Hi Bob,
Another nice post about collecting such gems from outer space! The microscopic view of flow line looks very beautiful (uh, whats a flow line?)
cheers, Priyank

Max Coutinho said...

Hey Lord of the Astropics :D!

Congrats on your 6 meteorites finding *high five*!

"Woo triple frigging Hoo!!" - LOL LOL LOL LOL loved it! LOL

Bob, are we sure that those thumbprints are caused by vortices of hot gas? Maybe those thumbprints are exactly that: thumbprints of some creature unknown to us...think about it!

Oh you have bagged the meteorites...so CSIish...impressive ;).

So, you are allowed to make business with your Astro-finding within Canada? Cool. Now, why is a special permit needed to sell outside the country? Do you have a theory on this?

I am so glad you had lots of fun, Bob; and thanks God your findings were spectacular :D!

Have a great week, Lord Astrostuff! :D

Cheers

Swubird said...

Bob:

Very cool. I know you are thrilled when you find a meteorite. By the way, did you see the recent show on the science channel about the guys who hunt for meteorites? They found some huge devils. I think one of their finds was a record. They sell them to museums, etc. They gather up historical data on past finds, and then plot a plum across a field. This gives them clues as to where to look. Some of the fields they showed looked just like the area you were in. How come meteors never land downtown? Or, do they?

That's a super looking rotating cube.

Happy trails.

Stephanie Barr said...

Supercool! Oh, I'm so happy for you! I know hard work went into finding these little treasures and no one I know deserves them more than you.

Congratulations!

Bob Johnson said...

Lol, thanks Priyank, the flow lines are just the rock being melted due to the extreme temps and creating melted flow lines of meteorite material.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Lol Max, who knows, good point, I like the alien explanation better for the thumbprints.

The whole selling meteorites outside the country requiring a permit is laughable, how can a space rock falling in Canada be part of our culture?

Everyone I tell that to laughs, just a money grab Max for the government, I hate politics , this is a good example of why I do.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks swubird, no I didn't see that show, I really wanted to, but we don't have the science channel in Canada, I have bought some meteorites from these guys.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Stephanie, nothing better then finding meteorites in my books, so glad I had, probably the once in a lifetime chance to do it.\m/\m/

Ivanhoe said...

You went back and found 6 more? And this time you can keep them all? Yipeeee! That is pretty exciting, if you ask me.
Don't sell them, Bob! :o)

Max Coutinho said...

Bob,

I hear you on the government wanting to make money on meteorites *nodding*. Now imagine when we start building cities on other planets: the war for claims will be fierce!

Cheers

Astro-Nuts said...

Another good post Bob. Cool shots through the microscope again. I'm glad you were able to get out with us. Hopefully the next one falls in one of our backyards so we don't have to travel the countryside looking for this stuff. It was a good day overall and worth the trip.

Bob Johnson said...

Hi Ivanhoe, it was very exciting, hey I will still keep a few for myself, they are pretty special.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Hi Max, that is a whole other post, one can only imagine what will happen, even on the Moon, should be interesting.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Colin, it was a good time, can you imagine a meteorite landing in your backyard, I promise to call you over to share if you call me over,lol.\m/\m/

Marvin said...

Awesome, dude! Congratulations! Six in one day.

Anne Vis said...

Fantastic shots and I love your story about the flow-lines, fascinating! Is that related to the magnetic field as well?

L. Venkata Subramaniam said...

Wow I didnt know one could find such particles from outer space here. Amazing and inspiring story. Beautiful pictures makes me want to go find something unique myself!

Mike said...

Hi Bob,

Thanks for sharing another fine post on your finds. Great photos and I bet you are getting excited for your trip - less than 60 days!

Ruth said...

Did you know I was born in Saskatoon?

:D

betchai said...

what a beautiful meteorite you have in your first pic, and the excitement of being the first person to touch it when you find it is really amazing, how i wish i have some too :)

Cruiselife & Co said...

What a fantastic Find Bob. I would love to be the first person that touches one of these. What a thrill!

The Uneasy Supplicant said...

Hi Bob

Can't say I would have as much excitement as you would looking for hours in a huge field for meteorites; however, I'm sure the beer afterward was more than worthwhile :-)
Also, love the microscopic shots...as I've stated before it's a very unique concept to include in your blog and the images are always striking my friend.
As for culture and Canada I have an explanation...being Canadian you know we absorb all and everyone and everything into a multi ethic society eh? We are such friendly, open, and inviting people. It's only natural to claim anything alien right? LOL
As always a great post my friend.
~JD

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Marvin, 6 meteorites in one day, very cool, no one I know can say that, mind you people I know barely know what a meteorite is,lol.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Hi Anne, not really, all the flow lines are is melted meteorite, (caused by friction with our atmosphere) flowing like a river along the side of the meteorite and then cooling to form the lines.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks L.Venkata, it was a once in a lifetime experience.\m\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Mike, good catch about the date, yes I am getting more excited, amazed how fast the time has gone.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Cool Ruth, very small world isn't it.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks betchai, it was a thrill to be the first human to touch these things, it never gets old, no matter how many pieces you find.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Dr. Lauren, you really have to be there to experience the thrill, words just don't do it justice at all.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Lol, you crack me up JD, it's all so clear to me now, and I thought it was just a money grab.lol.

About the microscopic images, I think it adds a little more to the post, don't see them around unless it is for backing up some scientific give me a headache journal paper or something like that, that's why I like to throw them in every once and a while without the heavy jargon, cause they are cool.\m/\m/

Online Printing said...

Wow, how cool can you get? This is absolutely amazing. I'm so thrilled for your find. You really know your meteorites. I love those microscopic images, amazing detail! These are wonderful, thanks for sharing these!

myonlyphoto said...

Hey Bob congrats, you were able to keep it - that is wonderful. May be you should come over here and find the one we are looking for in our area, lol. BTW so much character, you are so right. Nice piece of stone. I used to collect stones too but always looking for fish eyes, shells embedded, lol. Oh and not in here, but in Europe I used to go through our sand box and collect all the thunder stones, they were so cool. Now that you reminded me, may be I should ask my parents to bring me some, as they are vacationing in Poland as we speak. Excellent post Bob as always, you always put so much work into it. Thanks, Anna :)

Will said...

Amazing,Bob. I can't believe you can just go out and collect these. I somehow had the impression that finding one was a very rare event. I guess you really need to know what to look for? Maybe I have hiked over one and never even known it.

Anne Vis said...

Thanks for your explanation, Bob!

kRiZcPEc said...

yeah, always great to discover thing you knew well and love. Cheers.

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Online Printing and thanks for dropping by.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Lol Anna, thunder stones , they would be cool, I used to collect rocks and polish them as a kid. If you get some from Poland send or post pictures.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Will, this is very rare to be able to do this, I was lucky to be in the area of a witnessed meteorite fall and then having contacts to be able to go find and recover them, once in a lifetime opportunity!\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

No prob Anne.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks kRiZ cPEc, it was quite the experience for sure.\m/\m/

tett said...

Bob,

Great post! Happy you found more stones.

I decided to fly out myself with some friends, two of whom are with the Royal Ontario Museum. 6 of us found close to 100 stones. I found 19 myself and after giving the farmer his due was able to take 12 home. A couple of the bigger ones I donated to the ROM and I sold or gave away 6 smaller ones leaving me with 4 in my collection. My best stone was the first one I found and the largest at 91 grams! A real beauty.

I can send pics later if you wish.

Please email Dr. Peter Brown at Western University with your GPS and weight information. He is collecting data so as to create a strewn field map and to study the dynamics of this meteoroid. I will email you his address.

Still enjoying viewing thin sections?

Cheers!

Mike tett

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks tett, great you found some stones too, we are finished now. I will send the images and weights and see if I can get a hold of gps values if you can email the address to send to. Always enjoying thin sections, thanks again so much for giving me the polar films, very cool.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Oh and Mike send pictures of your collection, that would be great.\m/\m/

Michael J. Kannengieser said...

Hi Bob,
6 meteorites? Only six? I'd be ecstatic to find only one. But, then again, I would not know what I was looking at. Very interesting stuff, as usual, Bob. -Mike.

Nature Nut /JJ Loch said...

Bob, what a great meteorite adventure you had. I can see that smile that flashed across your face when you found out you could keep the meteorite gems that you found!!!

Great post and photos!!! WOOT!!!

Hugs, JJ

Cashmere said...

Hi Bob!
It's been some time since my last visit.. How are you? I'm happy that you found more.. Persistence and hard work pays huh? Make sure you guard it with your life! ;)

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Mike, good to see you back here again.\/\m

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks JJ, it was very cool to be able to find and keep these rocks from space, experience of a lifetime!!\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Hi Cashmere, good to hear from you, oh I'll be keeping an eye on them,lol.\m/\m/

Ruth said...

It was a lie - I was trying to get you to sell me a meteorite.

Bob Johnson said...

Lol Ruth, I'm so thick.\m/\m/

Livingsword said...

Hi Bob!

Lovely Bob...just lovely...I just left a blog about the Pryor Mountain wild mustang horses to find you have a story and image of a “wild” asteroid! There it lurks in the shadowy grass spying its target “find me, find me!” yells he...then you bag the poor things!! Mount them over your fireplace...ah it is a different life on the prairies...

If you keep finding more pieces you will be able to build your own asteroid the Boboid? Then you will own part of the Moon, Mars and an entire asteroid!

Fabulous Bob...

Bob Johnson said...

Lol and thanks Livingsword, some good ideas, the searching is done for now but I am hoping to get out later, maybe to find the really big one that got away,lol.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks blogangel, I will do that.\m/\m/

AngelBaby said...

So cool Bob. Wow! I would love to touch one of those and hold it in my hand just to say I had something in my hands from outer space!

Love and Blessings,
AngelBaby

Peter said...

Hi! A bit like looking for a needle in a haystack, isn't it? Parallel line searches are only as good as the eyes behind them. As for me, I'd be no good as my eyes are not the same as they used to be. Too much blogging I suspect. Did you use metal detectors at all or aren't they picked up with them. As for the first image it kinda reminds me of the filling that fell out of my head about a week ago.

Take Care,
Peter

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks AngelBaby, it is very cool to be able to touch one of these rocks from space.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Hi Peter, exactly true, we had some people find none, I was second for most finds, very cool, you have to be very vigil. We had magnets, metal detectors unless they are really big don't pick them up.\m/\m/

Genie said...

Woo triple frigging hoo indeed! What fantastic work you did finding, researching, and photographing your new babies!

You're a treasure, Bob.

The only way I know to salute your work is to Stumble your amazing shots and blog. I hope others come along and give them big thumbs up.

Bob Johnson said...

Hey Genie thanks so much and good to hear from you again, I know you would have loved being there and finding meteorites, once in a lifetime thing, I will always remember these finds.\m/\m/

p said...

thats very cool! and very artistic...like a foot stool made from found objects :)

Anonymous said...

It was great reading your blog about the Buzzard Coulee Meteorite. I haven't had much experience with meteorites and am just an amateur sky watcher. This may sound weird but I had a very strange connection with this meteorite or at least that is my theory. My body went through some really unusual manifestations the day the meteorite fell. I had no idea what was happening to me and it has not happened since. If you still have any fragments for sale I would love to test my theory that I was reacting to the energy in that particular meteorite. Weird eh. Thanks again.
VP

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paul said...

By the way, did you see the recent show on the science channel about the guys who hunt for meteorites?

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