[meteorite-list] Caldwell, KS impact melt breccia AD, sort of

[MeteorHntr at aol.com]

Hello List,

The Caldwell, Kansas Meteorite Story.

For 16  years or so, I have been chasing after the Caldwell, Kansas 
meteorite.  The  1986 version of the BMNH Catalogue (my original treasure map) listed  
this meteorite as being found in 1961, being 12.9 kg TKW with only about 50  
grams represented in all collections world wide.

This discrepancy in  weights made the treasure hunter in me say "Hummmm..." 

My hunch was that  someone had found this meteorite and sent Nininger or Huss 
a chip off it.   It probably was determined that it was indeed a meteorite, 
but the finder, for  whatever reason, didn't want to sell it back then.  This 
scenario, while  very rare, did happen at least one other time that I know 
about in the past  century.  Both Nininger and Huss were known for being 
persistent at getting  specimens the located out of the field and into the lab.  

In the  case of multiple finds from a strewnfield, the need wasn't as great 
to  get ALL of them, but in the case of single specimen finds, there was a  
logical case that could be made that science needed to study the new finds, and  
thus, not many of those got away.

So for a couple of years, I tried to  find who had this rock.  I would ask 
around the Caldwell area when my field  trips took me to that part of Kansas, 
all with no luck.

One day I decided  to write to Margaret Huss (daughter of Nininger and widow 
of Glen Huss) in  Colorado and I asked her what the old AML records might have 
on the Caldwell  meteorite.  In her gracious and helpful way, she responded 
by giving me the  name of the finder, Vernie Havorka.  Their records showed 
that the AML did  get a piece of this meteorite, but that was all.

Some research on my part  showed that there was no longer any Havorkas in the 
Caldwell area.  A  little more detective work and eventually I located the 
original finder in  another city.  I paid a visit to Vernie's home and we struck 
up a  great conversation and a friendship was formed.  

He showed me his  meteorite, and told me about the find.  Nothing dramatic, 
just that he had  hit it with the plow on his family farm outside of Caldwell.  
He mentioned  that both Nininger and Huss had paid him a couple of visits 
over the years, but  that he never really wanted to part with the rock.  Although 
he had given  one of the men a piece for testing and verification.

When I asked if he  would want to sell it now, he told me that it was in his 
Will, designated to go  to his son upon his death, and that it wasn't for 
sale. 

Vernie was a  part time pastor of a small country church and he had taken 
quite a few  missionary trips over seas.  He was full of stories of exciting 
trips to  exotic places.  We would talk, sometimes for hours about far away  
places.  One trip I remember him talking about was going to the U.S.S.R.  before 
their break up.  It was an interesting story, one that I used as a  spring board 
to think about what it would be like to go to Russia and travel to  the 
Sikhote Alin site on a "missionary" trip of my own to "save" some of those  lost 
rocks.

Early on, I had mentioned to Alan Rubin at UCLA about finding  the Caldwell 
finder, and Dr. Rubin asked if there was a way I could get him just  a little 
piece of the rock for some more detailed testing.  So, the next  time I was in 
Kansas, I popped in on Vernie, and made the request, and he  obliged by 
letting me take off a small piece around 20 grams.

I got the  fragment to UCLA and they were able to determine that the rock was 
indeed an  L-impact melt breccia.  The portion he got from me was of the 
impact  portion, so a more detailed classification wasn't forthcoming. 

While I  took Vernie at his word, that he didn't want to sell his specimen 
that he  treasured, over the years I would still pop in on him.  I remember 
showing  him, in his driveway, the 280 pound "Rediscovery Stone" I found at 
Brenham in  2005, that was just a few days before I ended up finding the Brenham  
Main Mass.  That was one of several finds I had showed him over the years  when 
I had a good excuse to stop in to see him again.  We would talk about  various 
things and I would eventually get around to half heartedly asking if he  was 
sure he didn't want to sell his rock yet?  
 
The answer was always the same. 

This last fall, I was passing near  Vernie's home on the way out to shoot the 
Discovery TV meteorite segment at  Brenham, when strangely there wasn't an 
answer at his door.  I left him a  note saying "hi" on my business card and I 
went on.   Several  weeks later I received a phone call from Vernie's son 
informing me that Vernie  had passed away very near the time I last stopped by and 
left my last  note.  

The conversation with his son veered around different  topics, including how 
much Vernie enjoyed his meteorite.  I mentioned to  the son that Vernie had 
indicated that while he was alive, he didn't want to  part with the meteorite, 
but that it would be his son's decision to make at a  later time.   I asked 
Vernie's son if he would possibly be interested  in selling the rock, and he was 
at least open to the idea.  Several  conversations later, he eventually 
decided to sell it.

Most of the  meteorite, including the main mass portion, is now in the 
permanent collection  of the Kansas Meteorite Society.  As I understand, the Kansas 
Meteorite  Society guys are going to continue to sell a small number of 
limited edition 1g  pieces on Ebay over time, but not much of what they have will be 
up for  resale.   
Several other institutions have shown a strong interest  in acquiring some of 
this material from me via trades.  But the modern red  tape filled process 
will delay me knowing just how much will be eventually  available to private 
collectors for some time.  My guess is that only about  500 grams total will make 
it to private collections, maybe a bit less.   

This meteorite is very interesting looking.  While it is an impact  melt, it 
does not have the appearance of Cat Mountain or Smyer.  But there  is a very 
distinct dark melt zone and the non melted portion has this very  pretty Aqua 
color to it.  A color I am not sure I have ever seen in a  meteorite before.

I have cut and prepped 15 part slices, totaling 431  grams and in each of 
these part slices I have preserved some of both  lythologies. 

I will be bringing what I have left of these part slices  (from 4.5 grams up 
to 76 grams) to Tucson with me, however I did want to give  everyone on the 
list an opportunity to get one now, before the show.    For those of you who ARE 
going to Tucson, when I get there, you can look through  what I will have 
left, if I have any left then.  

If you buy a  slice now, and if you are also going to Tucson you can always 
choose to trade  the piece you buy now out for another piece, if you see one 
then that you think  you like better, again, if I have any left by the time I 
get to Tucson

I  expect to sell out of these I have set aside for collectors, so if you 
want a  beautiful new meteorite, one that got away from Nininger and Huss, here 
is your  chance.  A beautiful rock, with a nice story, at a fair price.  What  
more would a collector want?

If you are interested in purchasing a part  slice, please email me off list, 
for a list of what I have available and the  prices on them.

And I would be remiss if I didn't remind you that your  support in buying 
meteorites from full time field hunters, like myself, helps us  get back out in 
the field to find you more meteorites for your collection  later.  
 
Your support is always appreciated.

Email me OFF list if you want  more details.

Thank you for your consideration,

Steve Arnold  #1
www.SteveArnoldMeteorites.com


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