Manson crater in Iowa.

[SteveDodds]

I have been wanting to get into meteorite hunting. I live very close to the Manson crater. Maybe some of you have heard of it. Would this be a good place to look for meteorites? How would I go about it?

 

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[Tuberale]

This site:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manson_crater

suggests the impact may have been a stony meteorite about 74 million years old, or 10 million years older than the Cretaceous-Triassic boundary. That means most of the rock near it has been added since the impact, and you will need to get into the older rock layers near you to potentially find anything eroded out. That said, look for some older streambeds or gullies which eroded into the older rock near the time of the impact. Might find something, especially if you have some lakes or deeper rivers near the older rock areas.

One way to find metallic meteorites is to fish for them with a strong magnet attached to a strong rope. But be aware that there could well be larger metallic objects also in the riverbeds, such as riverboats, cars, car engines, and other objects which can weigh more than your small magnet may be able to lift. Still, nothing ventured ....

 

[TerryC]

Steve, I don't want to sound silly or anything but meteorites are EVERYWHERE! They are in your hair, on your driveway... everywhere. If you don't mind starting out small, and I do mean SMALL, collect a few MICROMETEORITES. Google-up that five dollar word and go out and get a few.Then, while you are oogling them, buy a bigger one. Lots of fun for the kid and highly satisfying to know you can find them anywhere.... albeit small. TTC