Rock Elm Meteorite

The Rock Elm Meteorite impact center is located near the entrance to Nugget Lake Park. The GPS coordinates are approximately N 44deg43.000min, W092deg13.400min. The impact site is difficult to see as a crater. It was discovered when H.F. Nelson noted unusual rocks near Rock Elm Wisconsin in 1942. The rocks appear to have been punched out of the ground forming unusual structures. The best place to view the crater is go South on CC from Spring Valley to 410th, turn left and go East for one mile to 210th, then turn left and go North for about 100 yards. The GPS coordinates for the viewing area are N44deg41.270min, W092deg14.201min. The best place to see the unusual rocks is at Nugget Lake Park, the Blue Rocks, GPS coordinates N44deg41.543min, W092deg13.570min. To get to Nugget Lake follow CC South to HH, go left or West two miles turn right to the entrance, drive toward the boat landing and look for the sign showing the start of the trail to the Blue Rocks overlook and underlook. There is a sign at the underlook, authored by Prof. William Cordua of the University of Wisconsin, River Falls that describes the geology, the upward angled striations in the rock, the fact that that type of rock is typically found hundreds of feet below the surface, that the whole thing could have been caused by a meteorite or a gas explosion, and that people have found small pieces of gold and diamonds in the area. Perhaps this is where Nugget Lake gets its name. Professor Cordua has written an article on the meteorite, with others, published in 2004 by the Geological Society of America titled, The Rock Elm meteorite impact structure, Wisconsin: Geology and shock-metamorphic effects in quartz.