Date Idea 13/8/14 - Meteorites

Having read a post on geology.com regarding starting a meteorite collect, I've deiced that hunting meteorites might make and enjoyable date activity. Not only can this be done anywhere (some places are better than others), there are also many different types to collect!

A couple of the researchers at Monash University go out to the Nullibore to hunt meteorites. This location has some distinct advantages. Due to the limited erosion and weathering, meteorites are preserved in-situ for a long long time. This increases the chances of finding them. Other locations that would be productive are known strewnfields. Areas where meteorite fragments have already been found where more might be discovered. Recently, 10th July 2014, a meteorite was seen from Melbourne and Sydney (as reported in The Age newspaper). It was recorded by a number of people. A meteorite this recent would be amazing to find.

Date ideas 18/6/2014 - Sudbury Igneous Complex

46.673363, -81.025603

I've been marking honours exercises recently and as a result I've developed a temporary interest in the Sudbury Igneous complex. This mineralised region is the result of a meteorite impact. The impact shattered the country rock and the super high temperatures melted the sulphides. These then settled around the breccia creating banded massive sulphides. It's much more complex than that, but I haven't examined this case study all that deeply. I'd like to fix that though... this would make a lovely couple of weeks camping trip. I wonder if we could finagle a mine visit or three.

Fall back breccia - Black Onaping Formation with pink granitic clasts. Image hosted by Mindat.com (which is awesome, you should visit it!)

A well studied area due to to mineralisation - every one likes a geological map. Image hosted by the University of Western Ontario