Willamette Meteorite

Willamette
Willamette Meteorite at the American Museum of Natural History
TypeIron
Structural classificationMedium octahedrite
GroupIIIAB
Composition91% Fe, 7.62% Ni, 18.6ppm Ga, 37.3ppm Ge, 4.7ppm Ir
CountryUnited States
RegionOregon
Coordinates45°22′N 122°35′W / 45.367°N 122.583°W / 45.367; -122.583[1]
Observed fallNo
Found dateUnknown
TKW14,150 kilograms (15.60 short tons)[2]
Related media on Wikimedia Commons

The Willamette Meteorite, officially named Willamette[3] and originally known as Tomanowos by the Clackamas Chinook[4][5] Native American tribe, is an iron-nickel meteorite found in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is the largest meteorite found in the United States and the sixth largest in the world.[6][7] There was no impact crater at the discovery site; researchers believe the meteorite landed in what is now Canada or Montana, and was transported as a glacial erratic to the Willamette Valley during the Missoula Floods at the end of the last Ice Age (~13,000 years ago).[8] It has long been held sacred by indigenous peoples of the Willamette Valley, including the federally recognized Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon (CTGRC).

The meteorite is on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, which acquired it in 1906.[7] Having been seen by an estimated 40 million people over the years, and given its striking appearance, it is among the most famous meteorites.[9][10][11] In 2005, the CTGRC sued to have the meteorite returned to their control, ultimately reaching an agreement that gave the tribe access to the meteorite while allowing the museum to keep it as long as they are exhibiting it.[10][12]

  1. ^ Willamette meteorite, West Linn, Clackamas Co., Oregon, USA. Retrieved on October 30, 2008.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference AMJ was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Meteoritical Bulletin Database: Willamette. The Meteoritical Society. Retrieved on August 16, 2008.
  4. ^ Alaimo, Michelle (30 June 2016). "Tribal members visit Tomanowos" (PDF). Smoke Signals. The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  5. ^ "Willamette Meteorite Agreement". American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  6. ^ O. Richard Norton. Rocks from Space. USA, Mountain Press, 1994.
  7. ^ a b "Cullman Hall of the Universe: The Willamette Meteorite". American Museum of Natural History. Archived from the original on 2007-12-21. Retrieved 2007-11-02.
  8. ^ Pugh, R. N.; Allen J.E. (1986). "Origin of the Willamette Meteorite". Abstracts and Program for the 49th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society. 600: 208. Bibcode:1986LPICo.600E.208P.
  9. ^ "The Willamette Meteorite". Houston Chronicle. October 26, 2007.
  10. ^ a b Weiser, Benjamin (February 29, 2000). "Museum Sues to Keep Meteorite Sought by Indian Group". The New York Times.
  11. ^ Science Channel's "Top Ten Meteorites". Retrieved on November 29th, 2010.
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference nyt_pact was invoked but never defined (see the help page).