This feature is devoted each month to one of the personalities within the meteorite community. This month we are delighted to share an interview we had with Bob Evans.

Myself and Mike Farmer in Park Forest

What or who got you interested in meteorites and how old were you when you got your first meteorite?

I have always had an interest in Astronomy. But, it wasn’t until I was on vacation in the summer of 2002. I was at Nasa and I saw a large meteorite on display and for sale in one of their gift shops. I was amazed to see one that was for sale. I had to get one! But Nasa wanted $12,000. I didn’t know anything about meteorites then. But I'm sure it was an Iron.

What was your first meteorite?

I received my first meteorite as a Christmas present in 2002. It was a 810 gram Campo. At 33yrs old , I finally had my first meteorite. If I knew you could buy them I'm sure I would have started collecting many years ago. After I got that one I was hooked !!

Oriented Sahara 2,256Grams
 

Do you still have it?

Yes, I still have it. It May be a typical Campo, but I’ll probably never sell it because it was my first.

Do you have special areas of interest that you focus on in regards to meteorites (thin sections, photography, chemistry, age dating.. etc)?

I just recently started cutting meteorites. I have a lot of fun cutting stonys and recommend to anybody who doesn’t have a saw to get one. The diversity in meteorites is incredible. You never know what your going to see until you start cutting them open.

Oriented NWA 502 Grams

Does your Family share in your interest in meteorites?

Not really. My wife and I will occasionally search the cornfields together here in Illinois. But I usually have to bribe her to get her out there with me.

Do you have any special approaches to collecting? (Type collection, only stones, only irons, only by aesthetics, etc. or any and all that you like.)

I tend to collect stony individuals mainly and also focus on oriented stones. I do like slices but I really appreciate the shape of meteorites that exemplifies their passage through the atmosphere.

Oriented NWA 4+ Kilos

Do you mind saying how many locations your collection represents?

I estimate approx 100 different locations.

Is your collection displayed or kept in a dry box or both?

I do display some but most are stored in dry boxes.

Millbillillie 76 Gram Individual

In what ways do you use your computer for meteorites?

Ebay of course is a valuable tool to make new acquisitions. I sell and buy from ebay frequently. I regularly search dealers websites to see what May be available. Its also a venue to share photos of meteorites in my collection.

Do you ever hunt for meteorites?

I lucked out in this aspect. How many meteorite collectors do you know that have a fall happen near their home town after collecting for only 3 months?
Park Forest fell on the night that I returned from vacationing in Puerta Vallarta. The town of Park Forest is less than an hour from my home. When I heard that Park Forest was hit with a meteorite shower, I couldn’t believe my ears. I was in my car and on my way. First stop was the Fire Station. There was already a local guy picking up fragments out of the grass. I found a few frags there and learned of the street impact on Winslow St. My wife and I headed there and spent the rest of the day picking up about one kilo of fragments off of the street and out of the lawns. I hunted Park Forest many times after that sometimes successful many times not !
Park forest was an incredible experience. I got to hunt with Mike Farmer and I met many other people in the meteorite collecting community.  I do plan on getting to Oman in the near future to do some hunting.

Faucette 4.6 Kilos from Bob Haag Coll. Provenance

What is your favorite meteorite in your collection?

I would have to say it’s a 130 gram half individual of Park Forest that I found.

What is your favorite overall if it is not the one above?

I have a 4 kilo oriented NWA that I bought from Mike Farmer.

What makes these of special interest?

The Park Forest 130gram specimen is special to me because I found it. It was the last one that I found the first day of the fall. I found it on a roof of a house.
The 4 kilo oriented meteorite is just an incredible oriented specimen.

Park Forest Individual I found on roof 130 Grams

What meteorites are currently on your wish list?

I'm always adding more oriented stones to my collection. I would like to add more Eucrites and Howardites to my collection.

What methods have been most successful in building your collection? (Buying at shows, from dealers by mail, auctions on the web, trading... etc)

I'd have to say that a good percentage of my collection has come from online auction. I've acquired many specimens directly from well known dealers by mail. I have also traded with TCU as well as The Chicago Field Museum Collection.

NWA 788 oriented 536 grams

Do you also collect related materials like impact glasses, breccias, melts, tektites, shocked fossils, native iron rocks etc?

Actually I never developed any interest in collecting tektites, breccias, etc.

Do you prepare any of your own specimens? (cut, polish, etch, etc.)

Yes, I do cut and polish some of my specimens. I haven't etched any Irons. I'm not big on collecting Irons. I have some Sikhotes and a few Campos.

335 Gram Thuathe

Have you had to take any special measures to protect them from the environment?

Yes, When I started collecting I had a problem with some specimens rusting. To correct the problem I use Desiccant pouches, Desiccant plastic bags. The best protection was the dehumidifier that I use in the room that my collection is kept. I can maintain a humidity level less than 25%. Which is great considering it was over 60% in the summer before I got the dehumidifier.