Elmore County

United States

Find: 1940

Classification: Iron meteorite (IAB-MG)

History: Purportedly found in Alabama, USA. Presented to UCLA by L. Garvie in 2014. The find account provided by Fred Barxt is the following: "Many years after leaving medicine, I learned that I practiced in near proximity to the Wetumpka Impact Crater. Not knowing that any fragments of the impact meteorite would have long ago rusted, I asked Greg Dubay to ask his patients if any of them had found fragments of the meteorite and if they would allow me to hunt their property. Michael Mulgrew politely pointed out that this was an exercise in futility--a fact I failed to convey to Greg Dubay. One of his patients (Mr. Greathouse) relayed that they had a "space rock" in their house that had been found by his father and/or uncle in the 1940s. This farmer family was working the land for most of their lives. One day, they encountered a rock unlike anything they had seen before and brought it home. Sometime in the next decade or so, it was transported to Auburn University, where it was confirmed to be a meteorite and painted with a sealant. Mr. Greathouse gave the piece to Dr Dubay who, in turn, gave it to me. After I received it, I carefully removed the sealant with pure acetone. While he was alive, I asked Dr. Dubay to inquire if he knew the origin of the find or even the name of the farm from where it came. Regrettably, such specifics were forgotten years ago, if they were ever known. All I know is that is was unearthed in Elmore County, Alabama."

Geochemistry: (J.T. Wasson, UCLA): INAA data (average of two samples), Ni = 66.4, Co = 4.48 (both mg/g), Ga = 89.6, As = 11, W = 1.25, Ir = 4.1, Au = 1.457 (all µg/g).

Classification: Iron, IAB main group. Chemical composition is similar to Campo del Cielo with which it may be paired.

Specimens: Type specimens at UCLA and ASU (both >20 g).