EL SAUZ (5062 g, L6) meteorite fall, near El Sauz, Starr County, Texas at 5:22:40 pm CST (23:22:40 UT) on 15 February 2023

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Last update: 5 January 2024

The first of five finds (3646 g in total), a meteorite (L6) with a weight of 444 grams, was announced on 18 February 2023 by Dr. Marc Fries. The meteorite (444 g) was found by Robert Ward next to a dust road at or near location 26°36’25.1″N, 98°44’42.0″W on Coates Ranch east of El Sauz within the calculated fall area on 18 February 2023. The landowner wants to remain anonymous. Another 1.269-kilogram specimen was found by Marc Fries and Linda Welzenbach-Fries on the same private land. Five meteorites had been found by 22 February 2023. Four of them are fully fusion-crusted. The landowner kept four masses (1269, 1151, 756, and 444 g) and has agreed to donate one of the five finds to the Monnig Meteorite Collection at Texas Christian University which will curate the 23.52-gram type specimen as well. A sixth mass (1171 g in total) fragmented on impact on a mesquite tree. Sonny Clary and Terry Scott found four masses weighing 107, 81, 40, and 17 g on a neighbouring farm. Apparently ten meteorite masses had been found by 3 March 2023. The majority of the calculated strewn field appears to be on the area of the two ranches. According to NASA the meteoroid had a diametre of about 60 cm and weighed around 450 kg. On 29 September 2023 the meteorite fall was registered in the MetBull as El Sauz (L6, S4, W0)

The first found meteorite (444 g) of the meteorite fall, found by Robert Ward near El Sauz on 18 February 2023. Photo: Robert Ward

The first found meteorite of the meteorite fall, found by Robert Ward near El Sauz. Photo: Robert Ward

The first found meteorite of the meteorite fall, found by Robert Ward near El Sauz. Photo: Robert Ward

The second find (1.269 kg)

The small section ( 23.52 grams) of this mass has been used as type specimen for the classification of the El Sauz meteorite and will be permanently curated at the Monnig Meteorite Collection at Texas Christian University.

The 1.269-kilogram mass found by Marc Fries. Photo: Marc Fries

The 1.269-kilogram mass found by Marc Fries. Photo: Marc Fries (19 February 2023)

The 1.269-kilogram mass found by Marc Fries. Photo: Marc Fries (19 February 2023)

Photo: Linda Welzenbach-Fries

The 1.25-kilogram mass found by Marc Fries in situ. Photo: Marc Fries

The 1.25-kilogram mass found by Marc Fries in situ next to its impact dent in the ground. Photo: Linda Welzenbach-Fries

The third find (756 gram) found on 18 February 2023

Photo: Linda Welzenbach-Fries

Photo: Phil Mani

The fourth find (26 g) found on 19 February 2023

The not fully-fusion-crusted fifth specimen exposes the meteorite’s light grey lithology. Photo: Linda Welzenbach-Fries

One of the first five found meteorite still embedded in the ground. Photo: Phil Mani

The bolide

Possibly the sound of the detonation boom of the meteoroid recorded on a security camera. Video: Audeez/@disdikmark

Possibly the sound of the detonation boom of the meteoroid recorded on a security camera. Video: Audeez/@disdikmark

The detonation boom of the meteoroid. Video: Junior Sanchez

If it’s not merely a reflection on the camera lens caused by the passing car, this video might show the daytime bolide. Video: Matthew Seedorff

Calculated strewn field

Composite NEXRAD doppler weather radar returns of falling smaller meteorites which can be caught by the radar sweeps. The darker the shade the higher the reflection of the surface of the falling masses. Image: NASA (17 February 2023)

Calculated strewn field map over the composite Doppler radar data, based on only five eyewitnesses (Red: masses of >10 kg, orange: 1-5 kg, yellow: 1-10 g.). Image: Marc Fries/NASA (17 February 2023)

The luminous trail and flare recorded by the Geostationary Lightning Mapper on the GOES-16 satellite. Image: NOAA/GOES-East, RAMMB/CIRA at 23:24 UTC on 15 February, 2023

The luminous trail and flare recorded (Flash Extent Density) by the Geostationary Lightning Mapper on the GOES-16 satellite. Image. National Weather Service in Brownsville NOAA/GOES-East (at 23:24 UTC) (15 February 2023)

LINKS

IMO event 1036-2023

MEDIA

First meteorite fragments found in South Texas (Texas Public Radio, 26 February 2023)
Interview with Mike Hankey

TV report (CBS 4 News Rio Grande Valley, 24 February 2023)

Here are the Starr County meteorite fragments which may one day save the planet (KRGV 5 News, 24 February 2023)

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