Science can get messy when scientists don’t agree.
Along the western edge of Nevada’s Railroad Valley just
before rising into the Pancake Range is a little known anomaly in
the Nevada desert. This anomaly, about 15 miles south of Duckwater,
NV, is marked on various maps as a meteorite crater. But is it?
I have no age estimate for this feature. But it can’t be
recent. Note the erosion of the rim where water flowing from the
hill above has formed a gully. You can see that the crater
partially fills with water during wet weather.
Various earth scientists have studied this crater. Some have
concluded that indeed it is a meteorite crater. But no meteorite
fragments have been found, not even when digging in the
crater’s center. You’ll see the hole resulting from
this search. Others have declared that this is nothing but a
limestone sink. Or maybe it’s something else.
Here’s your chance to drive into the desert and see for
yourself. It’s less than 10 miles north of US Highway 6 on
graded dirt roads. The roads are a bit rough, but passable to a
passenger car if you don’t mind getting bounced around some.
My friends and I were there in early April when the land was
already hot, dusty and bone dry. Take care to avoid getting stuck
if you come in the winter when it’s wet or snowy. My GPS
showed the elevation to be 5231 ft at the crater. This is isolated
BLM land. Note the admonishments below about desert travel. They
were given to me by the local BLM office.
LOGGING THE CACHE
To log this cache you must drive to the posted coordinates, have
a picture taken of yourself in front of the crater to prove you
were there and post this with your log. In addition, e-mail me the
answers to the following three simple questions.
1. Estimate the diameter of the crater. I used my GPS and got an
answer remarkably close to the published result.
2. Estimate the depth of the crater.
3. Look around you and give me your opinion on how this crater
was formed. There is no wrong answer. Not even scientists agree. I
just want to know that you gave the subject some thought.
REFERENCES
“A Suspected Impact Crater Near Duckwater, Nevada,”
R.W. Schmude & J.E. Westfall, STROLLING ASTRONOMY, Vol. 40, No.
3, pages 97-103, July 1998.
“A Possible Meteorite Crater Near Duckwater, Nye County,
Nevada,” J.S. Rinehard & C.T. Elvey, POPULAR ASTRONOMY,
Vol. 59, pages 209-211, 1951.
BASIC VISITOR-USE AND PUBLIC SAFETY INFORMATION FOR PUBLIC LANDS IN
NEVADA
All visitors should plan ahead and prepare for outings on
Nevada
public lands by:
Knowing the regulations and special concerns for the area you
are
planning to visit (obeying laws that prohibit collection or
destruction of
artifacts, etc.);
Carrying a map and a GPS unit and/or compass (Maps are available
for
purchase at all BLM offices);
Traveling only on existing roads and trails;
Staying away from all mine shafts and adits;
Planning for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies;
Carrying a full-size spare tire, extra food, water, and warm
clothing;
Being aware that cell phones DO NOT usually work in the rural
areas
away from the major highways;
Leaving your travel plans with a responsible party, including
the date
and time of your return;
Following the principals of Tread Lightly and Leave No
Trace.
