First Advisor
Alex Ruzicka
Date of Award
Spring 6-14-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Geology and University Honors
Department
Geology
Language
English
Abstract
Dense collection areas are regions where meteorites are more frequently found, and can help researchers study the meteorite flux to Earth. The Jungo dry lake bed is a dense collection area (DCA) in Humboldt County, Nevada and is currently the recovery location of eleven officially classified meteorites. Five of these samples were classified as part of this work. All five are ordinary chondrites, two of which are likely paired with previously classified Jungo samples. Jungo 021 is likely paired with Jungo 005, and Jungo 017 is likely part of the previously established pairing group of Jungo 002, 003, and 004. The terrestrial ages of Jungo samples are estimated based on calculated age data from nearby DCAs to be between 8.1-13.8 ka for W3 samples and 4.48-8.1 ka for W2 samples. The meteorite recovery locations of all eleven samples lie along the eastern shoreline of the dry lake bed, seemingly transported from their original fall locations. Through analysis of recovery locations and elevations and comparison to similar dry lake bed DCAs, the meteorites likely moved to their current locations via ice rafting similar to that observed in Racetrack Playa in Death Valley National Park. Determining other locations where meteorites are transported in this way could help aid in the relatively recent application of this phenomenon to meteorite recovery, and more accurately predict the productivity of meteorite recovery surfaces on dry lake beds
Recommended Citation
Morrelli, Nico, "Chondrites from Northwestern Nevada: The Jungo Dense Collection Area" (2026). University Honors Theses. Paper 1881.