Willamette Meteorite
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The Willamette Meteorite was discovered in the U.S. state of Oregon, and is the largest meteorite ever found in the United States, and the sixth largest in the world. It is an iron-nickel meteorite. No impact crater has been found— it is probably in Canada.
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[edit] Physical characteristics
The meteorite weighs over 14,000 kg (about 32,000 pounds/15.5 tons) and is a type III meteorite. The iron content is more than 91% and the nickel content near 8%. There are also traces of cobalt and phosphorus. The approximate dimensions of the meteorite are 10' tall by 6'6" wide by 4'3" deep. The distinctive pitting on the surface of the meteorite is believed to be a result of multiple causes. Both the high-speed atmospheric entry and weathering (due to the high iron content) in situ at Clackamas County, Oregon are certainly responsible. Specifically, rainwater interacted with deposits of troilite in the meteorite which resulted in a form of sulfuric acid which slowly dissolved portions of the meteorite. This resulted (over a very long time period) in many of the pits that are visible today.
[edit] Modern history
The meteorite was discovered by European immigrants in 1902, in the Willamette Valley of Oregon at , by the modern city of West Linn. Parts have been sliced off.
When a Welsh immigrant named Ellis Hughes discovered it, it was on land owned by the Oregon Iron and Steel Company. The settler moved it in secret to his own land, which was 90 days of hard work to cover a 3/4 mile (1200 m) distance, after which he claimed ownership. However, the moving was discovered, and after a lawsuit, the Oregon Iron and Steel Company became owner. [1]
In 1905, the meteorite was purchased by Mrs. William E. Dodge for $26,000 and donated it to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City where it is now on display.
[edit] The meteorite today
In the past, the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, a group of Native American tribes, claimed to have used the meteorite to perform an annual ceremony. These tribes have requested that the meteorite be returned. The museum, however, was built around the meteorite and to remove it would require damaging the museum. In June of 2000 The American Museum of Natural History and the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon signed an agreement that allows access to the Willamette Meteorite by the Grand Ronde for religious, historical, and cultural purposes while maintaining its continued presence at the Museum for scientific and educational purposes. The agreement allows the Grand Ronde to re-establish its relationship with the Meteorite with annual ceremonial visits and also stipulates that the Meteorite would be returned to the Tribe if the Museum failed to publicly display it, except for temporary periods for preservation, safety, construction and reasons beyond the reasonable control of the Museum. Also in keeping with the agreement, the Museum will place a description of the Meteorite's significance to the Grand Ronde tribe in the Hall of the Universe, alongside a description of the Meteorite's scientific importance.
[edit] Replicas
A replica of the meteorite is in Eugene, Oregon, outside the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History on the University of Oregon campus. [2] Another replica stands near the Willamette Methodist Church in West Linn, Oregon. [3]
[edit] External links and references
- American Museum of Natural History on the Willamette Meteorite
- On the agreement between American Museum of Natural History and the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community
- Map reference
- meteoritearticles.com on the Willamette Meteorite
- grandronde.org on the Willamette Meteorite
- usgennet.org on the Willamette Meteorite
- Geological Society of Oregon on the Missoula Floods & the Willamette Meteorite
- About the Williamette [sic] Meteorite in Oregon
