Meteorites are pieces of other bodies in our solar system that make it to the ground when a meteor or “shooting star” flashes through our atmosphere at speeds of 15 to 70 kilometers per second (roughly 32,000 to 150,000 miles per hour). The majority originate from asteroids shattered by impacts with other asteroids. In a few cases they come from the moon and the planet, Mars. Meteorites that are found after a meteoric event has been witnessed are called a “fall”, while those found by chance are called a “find”.
Meteorites are usually named after a town or a large geographic landmark closest to the fall or the find.
In 1995, while looking for gold through metal detecting, Jim Kriegh discovered a huge meteorite field in Gold Basin, Arizona (Mohave County), perhaps the second largest meteorite field in the world!
Jim took fragment samples to the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. Dr. David Kring identified them as L4 chondritic meteorites. Later studies showed the fragments to be classified as L4-5-6.
In field studies of the Gold Basin area, a team, including Jim Kriegh, John Blenner, and Twink Monrad (Oro Valley Historical Society Board member and ambassador), recovered more than 2,000 meteorites. These meteorites fell to the earth as long as 15,000 years ago and are 4.5 billion years in age.
Jim’s discovery was announced in 1998 at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. Jim became a celebrity as everyone (dealers, scientists, collectors, and rock hunters) wanted to meet him and trade for Gold Basin meteorites. Jim did trade some of his meteorites for ones from around the world and accumulated a large collection. He set aside some of his collection and donated it to the Oro Valley Historical Society.
This Exhibit Made Possible by the Bequest of Jim KrieghFounder of the Town of Oro Valley and Co-founder of the Oro Valley Historical Society (1928 – 2007)
Oro Valley Historical Society is thankful for Jim’s generous donation on display in the museum.
Other References:
Learn more about the Gold Basin meteorite discovery in these YouTube videos Twink Monrad Discusses her friendship with James D Kriegh and The Gold Basin Project along with The Extraterrestrial Hunter article from ILoveOV.com, written by Tom Ekman, J.D., M.Ed. The article features Oro Valley resident own Twink Monrad where she explains what exactly meteorites are and how her interest in “Space Rocks” has grown. Twink is also a lifetime member of the Oro Valley Historical Society.
Read more in LOVE: Let Oro Valley Excel article: James (Jim) D. Kriegh – Oro Valley Founding Father and Much More