Paper: Oshkosh Daily Northwestern City: Oshkosh, Wisconsin Date: Wednesday, October 4, 1961 Page: 13
Appleton Youth Finds Bits of Meteorite
APPLETON - An Appleton youth attending Oshkosh State College recently discovered meteorite fragments near Oshkosh which had led to a quest for additional objects from outer space.
Ronald C. Meyer, a freshman at OSC found several fragments of the stony meteorite in a field adjoining Highway 41 about two miles northwest of Oshkosh. Ron was walking along the highway on Sunday, Sept. 17, en route to his home in Appleton.
Being an enthusiastic collector of fossils and Indian relics, he took a short detour into the field for a look around. Lying in a bare spot of grass he noticed several small fragments of a peculiar-looking rock and suspected at once that they might be parts of a stony meteorite.
Confirm Find
Two of the fragments were mailed to Prof. William F. Read of the Lawrence College geology department who confirmed the identification. Last Monday, Ron and Professor Read revisited the discovery location and found one additional fragment.
The material of the meteorite is light gray in color, tinged with a little rust stain due to weathering of tiny included particles of metallic iron. It is soft and commonly, resembling old mortar, and not particularly heavy.
Evidently the various fragments collected are part of one meteorite which broke when it hit the ground. Most of the pieces show patches of a thin black crust due to melting of the outer surface of the meteorite by atmospheric friction.
It is very likely that this meteorite was itself a fragment of a much larger mass which exploded high above the earth.
For this reason, it is hoped that farm families in the area will keep a close watch for additional specimens. The pieces recovered so far came from the farm of Otto and Eldor Schultz running north from County Trunk J on both sides of Highway 41.
More in Area?
More meteorites from the same fall could very well turn up anywhere within two or three miles of the Schultz farm. Professor Read will be very glad to check on any suspicious-looking rocks that may be found.
Ron Meyer's specimens are so fresh-looking that it seems likely the fall occurred within the past few years. It would be very helpful from a scientific point of view if the exact date could be established.
If anyone in the Oshkosh area actually witnessed the fall - a spectacular meteor accompanied by rumbling or buzzing sounds - Professor Read would appreciate hearing from him.
(end)
The newspaper refers to the meteorite, Oshkosh. An H chondrite, 12 pieces found with a total weight of 144 grams.
All twelve pieces are shown in a photograph with the article, which might also mean the total weight of the find is wrong. It is hard to believe that Professor Read returned both specimens sent to him or did not keep the one he helped find.
Clear Skies, Mark Bostick www.meteoritearticles.com
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