Heading West (Part III, Page 2)
November 11th - 20th, 2024
The Lincoln La Paz Meteorite Collection

Also: Trinity the Rescue Kitten - Odessa Meteor Crater - Concho, Arizona and Navajo Lava Rock and a little more DoBell Ranch Petrified Wood.



I put Trinity in a safe place to transport her back home with me. Even though I only had her for two days, she was now family, and would get the same respect all my family gets. Several days later, after I returned to North Carolina, I had her cremated along with my cat Skeeter who had to be put down. They will now travel with me on my future adventures. Their spirit will live on.


I made it to Harry's a little after noon. We chatted a while, then began digging out the meteorite collection. There were dozens to go through. Odessa, Canyon Diablo, Norton, Belmont and more. We also found a box of Bedias, Texas tektites.


Above: 77 gram Norton meteorite. Below: 59 gram Norton meteorite with a lot of fusion crust. There are also numerous smaller Nortons.



This is the largest Norton in the collection. 320 grams. It is being held together by tape applied in the 1940s by La Paz.


Lincoln La Paz, third from right, in the hole with the one ton Norton aubrite meteorite which fell on February 18th, 1948. It was sealed and transported to the Institute of Meteoritics at the University of New Mexico. It remains on display there today.


The above Odessa has a natural hole in it and a piece of yarn that one of La Paz's young daughters, either Mary or Jean added after it was collected.


A group shot of just some of the Odessa meteorites. I have many more boxed up. The largest in this photo is just over 14 pounds.


Odessa, 3,291 grams/7.25 pounds


Odessa, 2,973 grams/6.55 pounds


The largest in the collection was originally 16 pounds 12 ounces. Original label was still attached. A slice was cut off the bottom bringing the total weight to 6,374 grams, just slightly over 14 pounds. According to the label attached, the slice was sent to: COHEN. Likely done in the 1940s. This particular piece had a lot of rust and I cleaned it up a bit. When I am totally finished, I will post a final weight.



Jean La Paz points out a meteorite in the Odessa Crater. Cir. 1939.


Above: Mary Strode La Paz stands in a hole next to a 125 pound meteorite that she, her sister Jean and father dug out of the Odessa Crater. Below: Jean at the top of the hole looking down at Mary sitting next to the 125 pound meteorite.



Above: Another picture of Mary with the 125 pound meteorite further exposed. Below: Lincoln La Paz with his daughters, Jean and Mary. Taking a break at a local swimming hole in Texas. Note: Mary looks to be about 6 or 7 in these photos. She is now 92 when I saw her last month.



Above: A big thick slice (1,022 gm.) from the 1958 Belmont, Wisconsin meteorite that was found by a farmer and later identified by La Paz.

Below: A cigar box filled with Bediasites, Texas tektites. These tektites originated millions of years ago resulting from the Chesapeake Bay Meteor Impact. The other tektites associated with this impact are Georgiaites found in some Georgia counties.



Very interesting letters I found in the bottom of the cigar box of tektites. These were the negotiations between La Paz and the tektite collector in Texas in 1942.

Left letter, from Lincoln La Paz to tektite collector LR Lyons: Dear Sir: The Meteorite Bureau has just secured a grant (the last for the "duration") for the purpose of increasing our collection of tektites. (- black diamonds, obsidianites, glass meteorites). I am writing to ask if you have collected anymore of this material. We are most anxious to secure large specimens but would be glad to have you quote a price on any black diamonds which you wish to sell.

Very truly yours, Lincoln La Paz, Director
Missing Meteorite Bureau
Ohio State University

Middle letter, response from Lyons to La Paz: Dear Sir- In ans(wer) to your letter of Oct 26, I have a collection of tektites ranging in different sizes. I have 5 extra large, about like a pullet egg. Then there are 36 the size of a walnut. Then 75 from that size ranging all the (way) down to the size of (a) grain of corn. The whole collection is 116 - and they will weigh approximately 3 lbs. I want $4.00 per lb. if that is satisfactory with you, if not, what would you pay for the collection?

Yours truly, LR Lyons Iola Texas Rt.2

Right letter, La Paz response to Lyons: Dear Mr. Lyons: In reply to your letter of November 2, the Bureau would be willing to give you $4.00 per pound for the 5 extra large tektites and the 36 specimens which you describe as the size of a walnut. Or if you would prefer to sell the entire lot of 116 pieces, we'll pay you $10.00 plus insured parcel post for them. Please let me know at once if you are interested.

Sincerely yours, L. La Paz, Director
Missing Meteorite Bureau
Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio

Apparently, the offer was accepted since the tektites were in the possession of the La Paz family 82 years later. There were no longer 116 pieces. There were 61 pieces, mostly very small and many of them had been cut in half? I suspect that the largest pieces went to the university in Ohio. What I kept consists of about a dozen, walnut size or larger with no damage and unusual features. The largest being over 55 grams. I also kept one smaller rare green Bediasite pictured below.

I have searched the internet for the 'Missing Meteorite Bureau' in Ohio, but have had no luck. It may have been a short lived department? I know that in 1945, Lincoln La Paz founded the Institute of Meteoritics at the University of New Mexico and was Director of the Institute until 1966.


Above: A few of the larger tektites, the largest (Top left) is just over 55 grams. Below: A very nice, rare green Bediasite.



I left Harry's and headed back to Holbrook, Arizona the next morning. I drove over to Stewart's Petrified Wood shop near Holbrook. I had visited this site in 2002 with my Dad and R.J. It was a great place for nice wood specimens. Apparently, according to a couple of locals, it was shut down during covid. Much like other sites in Holbrook. Very sad.

I planned to visit some family in Concho, Arizona which is about an hour south of Holbrook. The route took me right by Rhonda DoBell's house, so I stopped in to say "Hi" and she let me pick out about 4 buckets worth of nice wood specimens.

After spending maybe 30 minutes at Rhonda's and loading the wood, I headed on to Concho.

Bill and Brenda live on a big ranch in Concho. Their property is covered with a very cool volcanic lava rock. In the picture below, you can see the remnants of an ancient volcano to the left. Bill said the Navajo come to his property and collect the rocks to use in their sweat lodges because they don't bust when they are heated. I collected some to bring home and a few to sell at the gem shows.


Above: Bill at the ranch, to the left is the old volcano. Below: Lava flow can be seen throughout the property and many nice specimens can be easily collected.





Bill and Brenda's ranch. You can see for miles.


Rusty the Ranch Dog


Large Elk shed that was gifted to me from Brenda and Bill. They find these on their property and have some nice ones in their main house.



The next morning, I was once again headed back to North Carolina. I have really enjoyed my trips out west over the past year and hanging out with my friends, Harry and Mary.

One thing I have learned, is the country is not as big as you would think. If you have the ability, you should take every opportunity to see it. I am already planning my next trip. Next time I will be visiting the pacific northwest.



Above are some of the pieces of petrified wood I brought home from my third visit to the DoBell Ranch. I especially like the bottom picture. It is one piece of wood with amethyst crystals growing on one side of the specimen and dark smoky crystals on the other side. Very cool!

Stay tuned for my future trip reports.

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