May 12, 1998


My First Find
Gold Basin Meteorite Finds -
Bolidechaser's 2nd Trip - Feb. 1998

Specimen No. Image Description
GB98057-a My first ever meteorite find, and my very next thought was, "Where's the other half?" Note the difference in color of this front side, which exhibits relict fusion crust, from the this top side, which appears to be a freshly broken surface. Diligent search failed to turn up the missing portion. Wonder if the missing matching half has already been collected? This image appears in a Personal Want Ad with the caption, "Lonely 20,000 year old L4 seeks better half"! For scale, this 44 gram (g) specimen is resting on the bottom side of a standard, black plastic 35mm film canister, which is just over 30mm, or almost 1.25 inches.
GB98057-a Opposite side. On this side the partially weathered fusion crust reveals some chondrules. This, my first find, has a mass of 44g which coincidently is the same amount as my purchased sample! Unlike the "sample", this specimen shows no signs of ever having been in a caliche deposit.
GB98057-a Rotated 90degCCW from above view. This side illuminated in order to highlight a fracture which runs the entire length along with other lesser visible fractures.
GB98057-a Opposite side. This side shows evidence of physical weathering due to being transported mechanically. See next image, as well.
GB98057-a Bottom side from above images. This side appears rounded due to being transported. This specimen was found resting on top of a pile of "desert pavement" clasts that were clearly, mechanically transported.
GB98057-a Opposite side. On this side, which appears freshly broken, reveals some chondrules.
GB98057-a Close up of the upper half of the above image reveals chondrules in relief, as well as, many small fractures. For scale, click HERE .
GB98057-a Location/setting of my first ever meteorite find. For view directly north from this same site, click HERE . For coordinates, see next image.
GB98057-a Coordinates can be determined fom the location depicted here on this image of the 7.5min. Garnet Mountain NW Quadrangle, R18W, T29N, SE1/4 of Sec. 23.
MW98056-b Meteorwrong (?). Well, we'll leave it to the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory (LPL) to decide.
MW98056-b Meteorwrong (?). An extremely weathered, reddish, yet still magnetic, siliceous iron oxide. I wonder what a 200,000 year old, reworked H5 would look like?
MW98056-b Meteorwrong (?). Polished surface of meteorwrong shows that a 4 mm thick rind of deeply weathered, porous limonite and silicates encircles a small core of siliceous, magnetic iron oxide and white silicate grains. "Click" HERE to see a close up view. Meteorwrong location is available upon request.
GB98058-c Bombs away! Approximately 35mm in length, this 20g L4 meteorite was found on the surface and shows evidence of being "desert varnished" and then of having been transported a short distance. Note broadly ablated top surface with relict primary fusion crust.
GB98058-c Opposite side - from side shown in above view.
GB98058-c Side view - showing"nose end" - after rotating 90 deg CW from above view.
GB98058-c Opposite side- showing "tail end".
GB98058-c Droppings from Space, or from my cat's litter box? Opposite (or bottom) side from the surface with the primary fusion crust.
GB98058-c Location of find. Coordinates can be determined fom the location depicted here on this image of the 7.5min. Garnet Mountain NW Quadrangle, R18W, T29N, NE1/4 of Sec. 26.
GB98058-d Approximately 50mm x 50mm x 30mm, this 106g L4 meteorite was found on the surface exactly like the first find (GB98057-a). Primarily "desert varnished" on this side, exhibiting very little fusion crust.
GB98058-d Opposite side - from side shown in above view. When found, this side was down.
GB98058-d This view, looking down, shows the finds orientation when it was found. Some of the sides appear to be primary ablated surfaces.
GB98058-d This is a view from the left showing one of the ablated surfaces as depicted in the above image.
GB98058-d Close up - of above view.
GB98058-d Location of find. Coordinates can be determined fom the location depicted here on this image of the 7.5min. Garnet Mountain NW Quadrangle, R18W, T29N, SE1/4 of Sec. 23.
GB98058-d Combined locations of all finds.

Images are by page author, Bolidechaser.
This page dedicated to my most understanding wife, Beth, and to my good friend and coworker, John Sosnowski, who lent me his metal detector.


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Regarding this page please contact - Bo at bolidechaser@tripod.net
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