Indian Butte
Indian Butte, also known as Stanfield
Indian Butte, also known as Stanfield. This meteorite hunt holds a special place in my memory. Here’s a quote from one of my MPOD contributions regarding Indian Butte.
“My wife, Lisa, was in Apache Junction on June 7, 1998, and witnessed the fireball that is likely responsible for the Stanfield meteorites. Over the years she’s asked me if I thought I might ever find a piece, and we talked about how cool it would be if I did. I didn’t believe it would ever happen, but thanks to my friend Robert Ward, and his dogged determination, I was given the opportunity, and was fortunate enough to find this stone.”
I spent a lot of time in the Indian Butte strewn field. I hunted with some of the best, and I have great memories of the times we had. This was truly one of the best hunts ever.
Marc Fries is responsible for using Robert’s data to find this fall on Doplar radar. Marc is the founder of Galactic Analytics. For a brief, wonderful time, we recorded our finds as they were recovered from the strewn fields that were located with the help of the radar data. Update: The Doplar has been amped back up and meteorite falls can be found again!
To read the official write up on the Met Bul go here: http://tiny.cc/9nk86x
Indian Butte Meteorite Hunt
Top row left to right, my Aunt Laura, Me, Robert Ward, Todd Parker and Larry Sloan. Bottom row left Scott Johnson and Bob Haag, This night stands alone for me, the best company one could ever ask for, sharing food, drink, fire and stories.. The only guy missing in this photo is my Uncle Brent, Laura’s brother. He was behind the camera.
Laura and Robert with Laura’s find.
Laura’s find, Nice! It now resides in the Arizona State University collection
Larry Sloan examines Laura’s find.
Left to right, Keith Jenkerson, Laura, Robert and Jack Schrader. What a handsome group!
Everybody was well armed at all times. The illegal drug and human trafficking in the area was ubiquitous. Everywhere you went the signs were there.
There is much evidence of the border crossing activities to be found such as these carpet shoe coverings. These are worn to reduce the trail one leaves through the desert.
Fuzzy side down, makes walking quiet and leaves less tracks!
This horse saddle was abandoned by a border crosser. Bicycles, backpacks, water jugs and little bits of black plastic bag in the bushes all over the place, remnants of the contraband being smuggled.
A freaky Pentagram out in the desert.
Joe Franske finds a meteorite, what’s new? At one point Joe had found half or more of the entire strewn field, 15 out of 30 or so total finds! I’ve never met anybody, and I mean anybody, that can rustle up space rocks like Joe. I give credit where it’s due.
My first Indian Butte, 29 grams, IB 004
The back side reveals a mysterious line, could it be a metal vein?
The back side reveals a mysterious line, could it be a metal vein?
Indian Butte 012. 79 grams.
My second Indian Butte Find
In memory of Larry Sloan
In memory of Larry Sloan. I feel privileged to have known you my friend, and like so many others, my life was enriched for it. I’ll see you on the big hunt someday! Rest in Peace.
