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March 6, 2013 www.DesertMessenger.com Balls of ADVENTURES WITH ROCKS Light & The most abundant type of meteFalling Rocks orite are the stones, but they are By Jenn Jedidiah Free On February 15 in Siberia, a ���reball lit up the sky, shattered windows, and caused buildings to tremble. Sonic booms were heard, people screamed and cried, chaos ensued. It was the grand entrance of another meteorite into our world. Shortly afterwards, the scramble to ���nd pieces of the new space rock began. Here in Arizona, we also have plenty of opportunities to ���nd meteorites. But what exactly is a meteorite, and how do you ���nd one? the most dif���cult to ���nd because they look the most like terrestrial rocks. Stony meteorites once formed part of the outer crust of a planet or asteroid. Stones contain mostly silicate material with small amounts of nickel-iron metal. Some stones contain tiny grains of colorful inclusions called chondrules. Chondrules are grains of matter that originated in the solar nebula. Chondrules are the oldest known matter, pre-dating the formation of our planet and solar system. Stony meteorites containing chondrules are known as chondrites. Stones that do not contain chondrules are called ���achondrites���. What distinguishes meteorites from earth rocks is an iron-nickel combination that is not found on earth. Meteorites are divided into three main groups: irons, stonyirons, and stones. The amount of Meteorites can be found anymetal in the meteorite determines where, but typically in arid enwhich group it is placed in. vironments with less vegetation they tend to be the best preserved Irons are made up of between 90 to and most easily found. Large 95 percent iron and up to 7% nick- concentrations of meteorites are el, with the remainder made up of called strewn ���elds. Strewn ���elds trace amounts of other metals. The are typically associated with a speiron-nickel alloy in iron meteorites ci���c fall or group of falls and may forms in a distinct and complex or may not be accompanied by a interlocking crystalline pattern crater. Places like dry lake beds or known as Widmanstatten Bands. playas are also good sites for locatIrons are further classi���ed into ing meteorites. Most meteorites Coarse or Fine Octahedrites based can be found with a magnet and on the width of the Widmanstatten a metal detector. Detectors made Bands. Iron meteorites were once for prospecting for gold nuggets part of the core of a planet or large are typically the best for meteorite asteroid. hunting. Other tools you will want to have are a loupe or magni���er, a The stony-irons consist of half rock pick, and a shovel. nickel-iron matrix, and half olivine crystals. They are the least abun- When looking for meteorites, there dant, and the most beautiful, of are certain characteristics that the the three types. Stony-irons form prospector should consider. For in the intermediate zone between example, most meteorites are magthe core and the mantle of the par- netic, but not all magnetic rocks are ent body which consists of silicates meteorites. Meteorites are heavy and nickel-iron material. There and dense for their size, compared are two types of stony-irons: pal- to earth rocks of the same size, but lasites and mesosiderites. not all heavy rocks are meteorites. Page 27 Meteorites have certain surface characteristics such as a fusion crust, ���ow lines, and regmaglypts that form as it melts during ���ight through the atmosphere. While these characteristics may distinguish a meteorite from earth rocks, the only sure-���re way to identify a meteorite is to have the metal content analyzed. If the metal content is a nickel-iron composition, then the rock is de���nitely a meteorite. Brenda Easter Sonrise service set for March 31 GOD���S LITTLE CHURCH IN THE DESERT will once again hold our regular Easter Sunrise Service out in the desert north of Brenda on Sunday March 31st beginning at 6:00 a.m. Come early. This is always a beautiful service, and we invite everyone to attend. Please also invite your friends and neighbors to attend with you. Not all churches have a sunrise service and it is a very inspirational service. For information on meteorite identi���cation labs, equipment and tools for hunting meteorites, books on meteorites, and locations of strewn ���elds near Quartzsite come to Rocks In My Head, Space A37, at Rice Ranch. We also have a nice selection of Canyon Diablo, Campo Del Cielo, and Sikhote-Alin meteorites for sale. We are open from 10-5, 7 days a week, and online 24-7 at www.RocksInMyHead.com. Call 605-376-8754 for more info. The Brenda area is so beautiful and you can experience what it was like when Jesus was preaching out in the deserts like in the Holy Lands. Hot coffee and ���BIG��� homemade cinnamon rolls will be served after the service around a BIG Camp Fire. Just in case we run out of chairs, you might bring a couple of folding chairs if you have available. We are an interdenominational church and all are welcome. Go down Perry Lane, past Roland Lane, then turn left into the desert, they are good roads even for a car and just follow the signs. See you there. Call Carol Roland if you have any questions. 714-318-0887 cell or Pastor Rick Roland 928-916-2055 cell. WELCOME BACK WINTER VISITORS! Debbie, Cheyanne and Sandy are glad to have Janna, Linda, Sheryl, Jo and Beth back and they are all ready to serve you. We also have Linda, formally with Headhunters, now at our salon. Sandy is out of school now offering Therapeutic Massage. Come and see us for ALL your Hair, Nail and Pedicure Needs! Corner of Moon Mt. & Cowell ��� Quartzsite ��� QUARTZSITE S ONLY YEAR ROUND SALON 928-927-5400