Meteorites linked to a significant fireball sighting in northern Ontario last month have been located on an island in Lake Huron. Dave Kenny, a Vancouver Island resident, and his colleague Anton Clemens found multiple meteorite fragments on Cockburn Island on July 11. This uninhabited island is situated near Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron.
The discovered samples were examined by the Meteor Physics Group at Western University in London, Ontario, confirming their association with the meteor event on June 19. This event involved a meteor breaking apart in the atmosphere and descending to Earth around 8 p.m. Kenny, an experienced meteorite hunter, expressed excitement over this discovery, marking his first meteorite find in Canada.
The search for the meteorites on Cockburn Island presented challenges due to the island’s private and protected status. Kenny coordinated with local authorities to secure permission for the search. Accessing the island required a boat journey from Manitoulin Island’s west side, where they camped before commencing their search efforts.
During their two and a half days on Cockburn Island, Kenny and Clemens covered extensive ground, logging nearly 50 kilometers of walking each day. Despite the rugged terrain, they managed to find significant meteorite fragments within hours of arriving on the island. The largest piece discovered weighed 57.6 grams and was found intact along a roadside.
Further analysis and classification of the recovered meteorites, suspected to be chondrites originating from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, will be conducted at Western University over the next six months. The successful recovery and identification of these meteorites highlight the dedication and expertise of the volunteer Meteorite Recovery Specialists team.