Since there is an article on the Rock Elm Disturbance of Wisconsin, I thought it would be nice to add some information about Meteorites.
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During my spare time off, I enjoy hunting in farm Fields for Meteorites and all that information that is written above is included in my searches and historical information on asteroid hits and meteorites that have been
found through out Wisconsin.
I have a few rocks that I have found with the symptoms of a meteorite,but I have not had them checked out yet.If you found a rock that that you believe could be a meteorite, don't throw it out on the rock pile just yet, get it checked by a professional lab,because you could be throwing a rock out that could be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars.One rock found recently in Kansas was worth one million dollars.I have to warn you though..If you find one in someone's field,it would belong to the land owner of that property and if you did not ask permission to go hunting on their land, it could mean big trouble.So ask permission before you go hunting and let the farmer or land owner know if you suspect you have found a meteorite.
The symptoms of a meteorite.
1.They are mostly magnetic.
2.They do not make a color mark on a unglazed tile or on a streak tester.
3.They are heavier then a regular rock of their own size.
4. There is a test for nickle in meteorites that could be done,
but it is expensive and the chemicals are very dangerous.It is better to have a test lab do the test, to find out if the rock you found is a meteorite.
A few years back some lady found a meteorite no bigger then a penny and it was a rare type of lunar meteorite..these are worth huge bucks, but are the hardest to find. Finding Meteorites is not an easy task and is a lot of dirty hard work and takes long hours looking for them.It is like playing the lottery,but with a lesser chance of winning the money,how-ever it is fun and interesting and you never know what you will find while metal detecting.
Meteorites fall everywhere,but mostly in oceans and places where a person probably won't get to.They will rust faster here in Wisconsin,because of our weather,but in Arizona they won't. Meteorites are every where, so don't let anyone get you down and tell you that you can't find one. I have spoken with many a scientist and professor and most have assured me, if you keep looking, you most likely will find one.Non plowed fields and dried lake beds are the good places to hunt for meteorites, how-ever deserts are the best.I won't stop looking and that is for sure and not to mention, it is good exercise too!
You can use any good metal detector to find them..I would say a mid range priced machine is all you will need.White's and Tesoro are excellent machines,but there are many others to choose from. When metal detecting, stay low to the ground and use slow flat sweeps or you will miss a lot of rocks and also other possible targets. I use a machine without a target finder,I go only by sound and it works just fine.The other one's work just as well also,but then you miss stuff around you because of watching the target finder.Some machines can be used both ways, but that is all up to the person as to their preference as to which machine they want to use.Good luck,be safe and always ask permission and keep looking up! :wink:
Here is are some places to find out more information about meteorites.
http://www.nuggetshooter.com/
http://www.meteoritecentral.com/
http://www.meteoriteman.com/
