[meteorite-list] Portales Valley

[star-bits at tx.rr.com]

     Portales Valley was my first hunt for a fresh fall.   Mike Farmer called to tell me about the fall.   I wasn't able to get away immediately, but I borrowed a bunch of cash and a couple days later met Mike and Jack and Devon Shrader in southern New Mexico and followed Mike back to the fall site.   I wound up sharing a hotel room with Mike and the first night there 2 locals showed up with a couple stones  looking for Mike.    Mike graciously allowed me to buy one of the stones.   As I recall it was a very metal rich 212 gram stone purchased for $1500.   The next day Mike told me he had a buyer for the stone for $2500.   Since I was working with borrowed money I took the sale and over the years have regreted it many times.

      I never found a piece myself, but from descriptions of later finds I was within 50 meters of a number of pieces.   I met Skip Wilson and spent several hours talking with him at his house.   Mike and I got to look over the meteorites Skip had found over the years and through Skip, Mike and I were able to purchase and split what came to be known as Roosevelt County 102.   

Aside from being hot it was a very enjoyable time.   Can't wait for the next fall.
--
Eric Olson
7682 Firethorn Dr
Fayetteville, NC 28311

http://www.star-bits.com