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| Willamette Meteorite at the American Museum of Natural History | |
| Meteorite type: | Iron |
| Group: | IIIAB |
| Structural classification: | Medium Octahedrite |
| Composition: | 7.62% Ni, 18.6ppm Ga, 37.3ppm Ge, 4.7ppm Ir |
| Country: | United States |
| Region: | Oregon |
| Coordinates: | Coordinates: 1 |
| Observed fall: | No |
| Found date: | 1902 |
| Total Known Weight (TKW): | 14150 kg2 |
The Willamette Meteorite, officially named Willamette,34 is an iron-nickel meteorite discovered in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is the largest meteorite found in the United States and the sixth largest in the world.5 No impact crater was preserved at the discovery site; it is possible that the meteorite landed in what is now Canada and was transported to where it was found by moving ice sheets.6
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Physical characteristics
The Willamette Meteorite weighs about 32,000 pounds or 15.5 tons. It is classified as a type III iron meteorite, being composed of over 91% iron and about 8% nickel, with traces of cobalt and phosphorus. The approximate dimensions of the meteorite are 10 feet (3.05 m) tall by 6.5 feet (1.98 m) wide by 4.25 feet (1.3 m) deep. The distinctive pitting on the surface of the meteorite is believed to have resulted from both its high-speed atmospheric entry and subsequent weathering. In the case of weathering, rainwater interacted with the mineral troilite, resulting in a form of sulfuric acid which slowly dissolved portions of the meteorite. This resulted (over a very long period) in many of the pits that are visible today. Willamette has a recrystallized structure with only traces of a medium Widmanstätten pattern, it is the result of a significant impact-heating event on the parent body.
Modern history
The Willamette Meteorite was discovered in the Willamette Valley of Oregon near the modern city of West Linn. Although apparently known to Native Americans, its modern discovery was made by settler Ellis Hughes in 1902. At that time the land was owned by the Oregon Iron and Steel Company. Hughes recognized the meteorite's significance, and in an attempt to claim ownership, secretly moved it to his own land. This involved 90 days of hard work to cover the 3/4 mile (1200 m) distance. The move was discovered, and after a lawsuit, the Oregon Supreme Court held that Oregon Iron and Steel Company was the legal owner. Oregon Iron Co. v. Hughes, 47 Or 313, 82 P 572 (1905). 7
In 1905 the meteorite was purchased by Mrs. William E. Dodge for $26,000. After being displayed at the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition, it was donated to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City where it is now on display.8
The meteorite was an object venerated by the Native American tribe inhabiting the area where it was found. The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, a confederation of Native American tribes, used the meteorite, which they call Tomanowos, in an annual ceremony, and have requested that it be returned. The tribes reached an agreement with the museum in 2000. This states that tribal members may conduct a private ceremony around the meteorite once a year, and that ownership will be transferred to them should the museum stop using it for display.9
In response to a student's request in 2007, Representative John Lim introduced a resolution that would demand that the museum return the meteorite to Oregon. The tribes said they were not consulted, they did not support the resolution, and were content with the current arrangement with the museum.10
A 30-pound (14 kg) piece of the meteorite that had been traded to an individual for a Mars meteorite was planned to be auctioned in October 2007, which led to claims of insensitivity by the Clackamas Indians.11 The meterorite section did not bring the price expected, however, and it was withdrawn from sale.12
A 4.5-ounce (130 g), 7.5-inch (19 cm) piece of the meteorite purchased in a 2006 auction is on display at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.1314
Weight
There is some confusion about the actual weight of the Willamette meteorite due difference between metric tons and short tons, often both referred simply as tons. The result is that several sources report different weights ranging from 15500 kg (15.5 tonnes)3 to 12700 kg15 The official American Museum of Natural History website also reports both "15.5 tons"16 and "14 tons"1718. However 15500 kg are likely 15.5 short tons converted as metric tons and 12700 kg are likely 14 metric tons converted as short tons. Moreover in 1906 the American Museum of Natural History itself stated that the weight of the Willamette meteorite was at least 31200 pounds, or about 15.6 tons.2 After these considerations it is safe to assume that the real weight of the meteorite is about 14150 kg = 15.6 short tons = 14.15 tonnes.citation neededoriginal research?
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.8 Another replica stands near the Willamette Methodist Church in West Linn, Oregon.19
References
- ^ Willamette meteorite, West Linn, Clackamas Co., Oregon, USA. Retrieved on October 30, 2008.
- ^ a b The American Museum Journal, American Museum of Natural History, 1906.
- ^ a b Meteoritical Bulletin Database: Willamette. The Meteoritical Society. Retrieved on August 16, 2008.
- ^ O. Richard Norton. Rocks from Space. USA, Mountain Press, 1994.
- ^ "Cullman Hall of the Universe: The Willamette Meteorite". American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
- ^ Chang, Kenneth (February 14, 2002). "Uproar Over a Sliced, and Revered, Meteorite", New York Times (via meteoritearticles.com). Retrieved on 2 November 2007.
- ^ Preston, Douglas. Strange Journey: Further Travels of The Willamette Meteorite. Meteor Treasures. Retrieved on October 31, 2007.
- ^ a b Geology Tour. University of Oregon: Museum of Natural History. Retrieved on October 31, 2007.
- ^ Sullivan, John. Pact Leaves Meteorite With Museum. The New York Times, June 23, 2000.
- ^ Walsh, Edward (March 27, 2007). "House caught between a rock and a hard place". Retrieved on 29 March 2007.
- ^ Tribe: Sale of space rock 'insensitive'. CNN.com. Retrieved on September 15, 2007.
- ^ Cow-killing meteorite sells for $1,554. CNN.com. Retrieved on October 31, 2007.
- ^ "Willamette Meteorite to Return to Oregon as Part of Evergreen Aviation Museum's Collection". Salem-News.com (2006-04-14). Retrieved on 2008-06-06.
- ^ Tims, Dana (2008-06-06). "Space history stands tall in museum", The Oregonian. Retrieved on 6 June 2008.
- ^ Harry Y. McSween. Meteorites and Their Parent Planets. Cambridge University Press, 1999.
- ^ Planets Zone, Rose Center for Earth and Space. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved on August 16, 2008.
- ^ Arthur Ross Hall of Meteorites. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved on August 16, 2008.
- ^ AMNH Special Collections: Astronomy slides. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved on August 16, 2008.
- ^ The Willamette Meteorite, Information Sources and Links. Clackamas County Oregon History and Genealogy. Retrieved on August 16, 2008.
External links
- On the agreement between American Museum of Natural History and the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community
- Map reference
- Articles search result for "Meteorite" on the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde website
- Geological Society of Oregon on the Missoula Floods & the Willamette Meteorite
- About the Williamette [sic] Meteorite in Oregon
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 15 November 2008, at 20:53.
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