On the Trail of the World's Great Meteorites
University of New Mexico Meteorite Collection
On Oct 4 2023, I was thrilled to be part of a small group permitted to tour the impressive UNM meteorite collection in Albuquerque.
Special thanks to Dr. Carl Agee for hosting our group and showing us these amazing specimens.
Photo's by Dave Kenny, used with permission of the University of New Mexico Institute of Meteoritics.
Norton County
Kansas - 1948. Aubrite (Enstatite Achondrite)
This massive centerpiece of the UNM collection, Norton County fell as a widely witnessed fireball and meteor shower across the Kansas - Nebraska border in Feb 1948. The UNM sent a team and recovered many pieces. This is the largest piece, 1070 kg, recovered 3 months after the fall from Nebraska. It is the largest single stone meteorite to fall in the USA. Aubrites are named for the 1836 Aubres, France meteorite. They are rich in magnesium. The interior is creamy white and quite fragile. Forsterite makes up about 10% of this meteorite, and it fluoresces yellow under UV light. The parent body source of aubrites may be the asteroid 3103 Eger.
UNM Institute of Meteoritics.
Navajo
Arizona - 1921. Iron.
This huge meteorite piece (named Navajo I - 3306 lbs) was found in 1921 buried under some rocks and talus and beads below a sandstone ridge. A second piece (Navajo II - 1508 lbs) was found nearby buried in soil, 5 years later. There is evidence the Navajo and pre-historic people knew of both these objects.
The Navajo I meteorite was cut and polished at the Smithsonian in 1991. This display piece from Navajo I is 1600 lbs. It is on long-term loan from the Field Museum in Chicago.
Garabato
Argentina - 1995. H5 chondrite.
This 160 kg stone was found while plowing.
NWA 7034 "Black Beauty"
Western Sahara. Martian. Polymict breccia.
This unique meteorite was purchased in Morocco in 2011. It contains a number of different clasts of rock and mineral types (lithologies) of various sizes and shapes in a black matrix. It has a high water content. It has been extensively studied and is felt to be a sample of ancient Mars crust.
Pallasites ! - Stained Glass from Space
Seymchan
Russia - 1967. Pallasite
Brenham
Kansas - 1882. Pallasite.
Choteau
Montana - 2011. Pallasite
Esquel
Argentina - 1951. Pallasite.
Conception Junction
Missouri - 2006. Pallasite
Sericho
Kenya - 2016. Pallasite.
Over 2800 kg has been found since it's discovery.
Springwater
Saskatchewan, Canada - 1931. Pallasite.
Read more about Springwater on my website dedicated to Canadian meteorites here and here.
Admire
Kansas - 1881. Pallasite.
UNM Institute of Meteoritics.
Toluca
Mexico - 1776. Iron.
Cut section, etched, showing Widmanstatten pattern.
Local native people used it as a source of iron (found after rainstorms) to make agricultural implements and axes, and it is reported there were two blacksmiths forging it in 1776.
Sikhote-Alin
Russia - 1947. Iron.
UNM Institute of Meteoritics.
Allende
Chihuahua, Mexico - Feb 1969.
A very well-studied meteorite, it is the largest known carbonaceous chondrite.
Muonionalusta
Sweden - 1906. Iron.
With a beautiful visible internal pattern when etched, this meteorite has been used to make decorative jewelry.
Gibeon
Namibia - 1836. Iron.
This meteorite was part of a very large strewnfield. When cut and etched with acid, it also displays a beautiful internal Widmanstatten pattern and has been used to make jewelry.
Taza
Morocco - 2001. Iron.
Several hundred sculpted specimens were recovered from a strewnfield.
New Mexico meteorites
Glorieta Mountain >
New Mexico - 1884. Pallasite (anomalous)
Chico
New Mexico - 1954. L6 chondrite.
Portales Valley
New Mexico - 1998. H6 chondrite.
UNM Institute of Meteoritics.
Sutter's Mill
California - 2012. Carbonaceous chondrite.
A witnessed fall, caught on camera. Meteorite hunters rapidly found pieces. Samples of this meteorite was used to calibrate instruments on NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission. This mission returned a sample from the asteroid Bennu to Earth on Sept 24 2023.
Pinto Mountains
California, USA - 1954. Chondrite.
Carver
Alabama, USA - 1935. Iron.
This meteorite was brought to a museum in Alabama in the 1930's by a farmer.
