[meteorite-list] Llooking for canyon diablo strewn field map

Piper R.W. Hollier piper at xs4all.nl
Sun May 10 06:30:26 EDT 2009


Hi Floyd, Bernd, and list,

At 22:38 09-05-09, Floyd wrote:

>I am seeking help. I am looking for any info and maps on the Canyon 
>Diablo strewn field.

The map that Bernd mentions was made by Samuel J. Holsinger and dated 
November 1908. Holsinger was Daniel Barringer's drilling supervisor 
at the crater for many years and namesake of the 639 kg Holsinger 
fragment, the largest known individual meteorite found to date in the 
vicinity of the crater. A jpg of the map can be viewed here:

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v434/n7030/extref/434157a-s3.jpg

The map marks the location of both meteoric iron siderites and iron 
oxide shale balls. Nearly all locations marked on the map fall within 
a circle with a radius of 5.5 miles centered on the crater. Curious 
minds wonder whether fragments are now being found even further away, 
thanks to the miracle of modern metal detectors.

One interesting aspect of Holsinger's map is that the distribution 
within one mile of the crater was strongly assymmetric, with the 
preponderance of the fragments found to the northeast of the crater.

>I also need to know the direction flight.

It has long been believed that the meteoroid came in from the north 
or northeast, based mainly on the asymmetric uplift of the rim, which 
is higher on the south side. The asymmetric distribution of fragments 
outside the crater and near to it may support this trajectory hypothesis.

This short article mentions a north or northeasterly trajectory and 
an angle of 80 degrees, though it does not mention sources for this 
information:

http://content.zdnet.com/2346-9595_22-95512.html

Does anyone out there know of a journal article where the 80 degree 
angle is discussed, with the rationale behind proposing this value 
for the trajectory angle?

Best wishes to all,

Piper




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