In an impressive display of perseverance, three students from Curtin University uncovered a meteorite during a five-day expedition in the remote outback of Western Australia. The team—Michael Frazer, Dale Giancono and Iona Clemente—spotted the 300-gram rock after a long hours-long search. Their efforts from November 1 to November 5 resulted in this incredible find. It’s not the first time that the Desert Fireball Network has followed this meteorite. It’s thought to have crashed some 400 klicks northeast of Kalgoorlie.
In mid-July, one of the Desert Fireball Network’s cameras caught the meteorite whizzing through the atmosphere. This incredible sight soon captivated the attention of passersby. This connected network operates through a series of strategically placed cameras in isolated desert environments and across the Nullarbor Plain. Their aim is to track meteors as they fall into the atmosphere above Western Australia. Collectively, these cameras provide full coverage of an astounding three million square kilometers of sky.
The Search Process
This search was not a straight shot. The team had to evaluate about 700 applicants before finding their gem. At first, they dramatically misjudged the meteorite size, thinking it would be too tiny to find. Frazer explained their approach, stating, “We sort of used to go out and just walk around and hope we could stumble across the rock, sort of sweeping the area manually.”
“Overall, there were upward of 150 potential sites,” Jamison said, but a drone survey proved instrumental in narrowing down those possibilities. This drone could pick up hundreds of any small black objects on the ground, and the team closely studied these possible contenders. Frazer elaborated on the challenges of searching in such an environment, saying, “There’s also gumnuts and spider holes and kangaroo poo, or a wombat nose if the wombat’s looking up towards the drone.”
On the final day of their expedition, when hope was waning and Frazer was ready to return to camp, fortune smiled upon them.
“We all ran up and there it was sitting on the ground, not where we expected,” – Michael Frazer
That sense of relief and joy at their historic achievement echoed through the members of Team SJS when they gathered to celebrate the moment.
Analyzing the Meteorite
After the successful catch, the team flew their meteorite back to Curtin University’s Perth campus for analysis. Their overall aim is to figure out what it is made of, where it came from. Frazer noted that meteorites come in various types, stating, “Meteorites come in sort of a few different species, so we want to figure out which one it is.”
They are interested in determining how old the meteorite is, too. That will give scientists a better picture of how long it’s been drifting through interstellar space. Only a small piece has chipped away from the main stage during its trip. This makes for a fascinating ingredient to our explorations.
The meteorite is unique due to its outstanding scientific importance. In addition to being the 11th meteorite with an orbit known prior to fall that the Desert Fireball Network has recovered, it is a wonderful specimen. This achievement is a testament to the network’s continual dedication to pushing meteorite research in Australia forward.
Future Implications
The find has far-reaching implications not just for meteorite studies, but for planetary exploration as well. By linking and studying these types of finds, researchers learn a great deal about celestial events and the development of our solar system. Frazer, Giancono and Clemente’s methodology has the potential to take future expeditions to new heights. It promises to improve the effectiveness of search for meteorites, which is a significant advantage.
Their journey is a signpost pointing out the vastness of space and the wonders that exist in it beyond our own planet. As Frazer reflected on their experience, he remarked on the emotions tied to such discoveries:
“There was lots of cheering; I think lots of frustration from the past couple of days came out there, but you know, no one can hear you when you’re out there.” – Michael Frazer
