Willamette Meteorite

Short description: Iron-nickel meteorite found in Oregon, U.S.

Willamette

File:At American Museum of Natural History 2024 005.jpg

Willamette Meteorite at the American Museum of Natural History

Type| Iron
Structural classification| Medium octahedrite
Group| IIIAB
Composition| 91% Fe, 7.62% Ni, 18.6ppm Ga, 37.3ppm Ge, 4.7ppm Ir
Country| United States
Region| Oregon
Coordinates|  [ ⚑ ] : 45°22′N 122°35′W﻿ / ﻿45.367°N 122.583°W﻿ / 45.367; -122.583[1]
Observed fall| No
Found date| Unknown; by 1902
TKW| 14,150 kilograms (15.60 short tons)[2]

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.[6]

It was discovered in 1902 and for a long time it was seen as the sixth largest meteorite in the world.[7][8] However, with new samples such asEl Ali and Gancedo being discovered, the Willamette is no longer in the top ten largest meteorites in the world.[9][10]

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).[11] 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 (CTGR).

The meteorite is on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, which acquired it in 1906.[8] Having been seen by an estimated 40 million people over the years, and given its striking appearance, it is among the most famous meteorites.[12][13][14] In 2005, the CTGR 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.[13][15]

## Contents

* 1 Physical characteristics and formation
* 2 Emplacement and erosion
* 3 Modern history
* 4 Mass
* 5 Replicas
* 6 See also
* 7 References
* 8 Further reading
* 9 External links

## Physical characteristics and formation

Close-up of the meteorite

The Willamette Meteorite weighs about 34,200 pounds (15,500 kg). It is classified as a type III iron meteorite, being composed of over 91% iron and 7.62% nickel, with traces of cobalt and phosphorus. The approximate dimensions of the meteorite are 10 feet (3 m) tall by 6.5 feet (2 m) wide by 4.25 feet (1.3 m) deep. Most iron meteorites like Willamette have originated from the differentiated core of planetesimals or asteroids that collided with another object. Willamette has a recrystallized structure with only traces of a medium Widmanstätten pattern; the result of a significant impact-heating event on the parent body.[8][16] The Willamette Meteorite contains higher concentrations of various metals that are quite rare in Earth's crust. For example, iridium, one of the least abundant elements in Earth's crust, is found in the Willamette Meteorite at a concentration of 4.7 ppm, thousands of times more concentrated than in the Earth's crust.[17]

## Emplacement and erosion

Glacial Lake Columbia (west) and Glacial Lake Missoula (east, in blue) were south of Cordilleran Ice Sheet. The areas inundated in the Columbia and Missoula Floods are shown in red. The meteorite was rafted by the floods embedded inside an ice block.

The lack of an impact crater at the discovery site was only explained after the 1920s, with the new understanding about the Missoula Floods, one of the largest floods documented. These floods were caused by the collapse of an ice barrier during the last deglaciation.

The meteorite presumably landed on an ice cap in what is now Montana or western Canada, and was dragged by the glacier ice to the vicinity of an ice barrier that formed across the Clark Fork River. This barrier had ponded a huge amount of water at Lake Missoula right at the time when the meteorite reached the area and the ice barrier became unstable and was breached. The resulting flood involved up to 10 million cubic metres (350 million cubic feet) per second of water discharge, with large blocks of ice rafting down the Columbia River and the Willamette Valley at the end of the last Ice Age (~13,000 years ago).[11] Some of these ice rafts included boulders (known as 'glacial erratic' by geologists) like the Willamette meteorite, which eventually sank in the flood waters and settled where they were found by humans.

The deep crevasses of the meteorite resulted from both its high-speed atmospheric entry and its subsequent weathering. Exposed to the elements for thousands of years, rainwater interacted with the mineral troilite, resulting in a form of sulfuric acid which slowly dissolved portions of the meteorite. This resulted in the gradual development of the hollows that are visible today.

## Modern history

In 1902, Ellis Hughes was the first European settler to recognize the meteorite's significance.[18] At that time, the land was owned by the Oregon Iron and Steel Company. Hughes attempted to claim ownership of the meteorite, and secretly moved it to his own land. This involved 90 days of hard work to cover the 3⁄4 mile (1,200 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.[19][20]

Willamette Meteorite in the early 20th century

In 1905, Sarah Tappan Hoadley, wife of William E. Dodge Jr., purchased the meteorite for $26,000 ($909,904 in 2024). After displaying it at the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition,[21][22] she donated it to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City,[23] where it has been on display since 1906.[24]

In 1998, museum curators cut a 28-pound (13 kg) section from the crown of the meteorite.[25] That section was traded to a private collector for a one-half-ounce (14 g) piece of a Martian meteorite.[25][26]

In 1999, the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon (CTGR), a confederation of Native American tribes, demanded that it be returned and filed an action pursuant to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) against the American Museum of Natural History. In response, the Museum filed a federal lawsuit seeking a declaratory judgment against the CTGR in 2000. An agreement with the Museum was reached later that year in which the meteorite would remain at the museum with tribal members being able to conduct a private ceremony around the meteorite once a year, and that ownership will be transferred to CTGR should the museum cease to have the meteorite on display.[15]

In 2006, a 4.5-ounce (130 g), 7.5-inch (19 cm) piece of the meteorite, derived from the above noted crown section, was purchased at auction and was displayed at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon, until it was returned to the CTGR on February 22, 2019.[27][28][29]

In early 2007, in response to a student's request, 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.[30]

In October 2007, plans to auction the crown section led to claims by the CTGR of insensitivity.[26][31] Bidders dropped out when an editorial in the Portland Oregonian newspaper asserted the CTGR would file a lawsuit against the new owner, but the CTGR disavowed the editorial and said they had no such intent, and that they could not stop the sale. While the newspaper printed an apology, the specimen was withdrawn.[32][33][34] A lawsuit was filed against the newspaper in Oregon Circuit Court and failed.[35]

## Mass

A historical marker in the Willamette area of West Linn, Oregon. The plaque reads: "In 1902 Ellis Hughes discovered the ​15 1⁄2 ton Willamette Meteorite, the largest ever found in the United States, about 2 miles N.W. of this place. Marker erected August 4, 1962 by West Linn Fair Board."

Different sources report different weights of the Willamette Meteorite, ranging from 15,500 kilograms (34,200 lb)[36] to 12,700 kilograms (28,000 lb).[37] Circa 2008, pages of the American Museum of Natural History website stated both "15.5 tons"[38] and "14 tons".[39][40] There are differences between the metric ton (1,000 kilograms, 2,204.6 lb), short ton (2,000 pounds, 907.18 kg), and long ton (2,240 pounds, 1,016.0 kg), each of which may simply be called a "ton". In 1906, the American Museum of Natural History stated that the weight of the meteorite was "at least 31,200 pounds, or about 15.6 tons",[2] consistent with American usage of "ton" usually meaning the short ton. As of 2023[update], the American Museum of Natural History website gives the weight as "15.5 tons".[41]

## Replicas

An inexact replica, known as Brown and Black Asteroid, is on display in Eugene, Oregon, outside the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History on the University of Oregon campus.[42]

A one-fifth-size replica stands in Fields Bridge Park in West Linn, Oregon.[43][44]

The only exact replica of the meteorite was created circa 2018 by Garrick Imatani, an artist and assistant professor at Southern Oregon University, through a process involving photogrammetry of the original at the American Museum of Natural History, via cooperation with the CTGR, and 3D printing.[45] Imatani also created an interpretation of the meteorite that is on permanent display at the University of Oregon in Straub Hall.[46][47]

## See also

* Glossary of meteoritics
* List of largest meteorites on Earth
* List of individual rocks

## References

1. ↑ Willamette meteorite, West Linn, Clackamas Co., Oregon, USA. Retrieved on October 30, 2008.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 The American Museum Journal, American Museum of Natural History, 1906.
3. ↑ Meteoritical Bulletin Database: Willamette. The Meteoritical Society. Retrieved on August 16, 2008.
4. ↑ Alaimo, Michelle (30 June 2016). "Tribal members visit Tomanowos" (in en). Smoke Signals (The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde). https://anthro.amnh.org/anthropology/databases/projects/nagpra20/grandronde.pdf.
5. ↑ "Willamette Meteorite Agreement". https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent-exhibitions/rose-center-for-earth-and-space/dorothy-and-lewis-b.-cullman-hall-of-the-universe/willamette-meteorite-agreement/.
6. ↑ "Top 11 Famous Meteorites". https://www.fossilera.com/pages/top-11-famous-meteorites?srsltid=AfmBOoqXKl-z_ONZnUeTNeZML0CcnIXECQNZ10gkNiaeYu1YE7VUBCH0.
7. ↑ O. Richard Norton. Rocks from Space. USA, Mountain Press, 1994.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Cullman Hall of the Universe: The Willamette Meteorite". American Museum of Natural History. http://www.amnh.org/rose/meteorite.html.
9. ↑ "Meteorite Statistics". https://sites.wustl.edu/meteoritesite/items/some-meteorite-statistics/#:~:text=About two thirds of meteorites,mainly in the Atacama Desert..
10. ↑ "Meteorites on Earth: how many fall per year and why don’t we see them?". https://www.iberdrola.com/about-us/our-innovation-model/meteorites-earth.
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 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.
12. ↑ "The Willamette Meteorite". Houston Chronicle. October 26, 2007. http://www.chron.com/news/gallery/The-Willamette-Meteorite-27790.php.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Weiser, Benjamin (February 29, 2000). "Museum Sues to Keep Meteorite Sought by Indian Group". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/29/nyregion/museum-sues-to-keep-meteorite-sought-by-indian-group.html.
14. ↑ Science Channel's "Top Ten Meteorites" . Retrieved on November 29th, 2010.
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Sullivan, John (June 23, 2000). "Pact Leaves Meteorite With Museum". The New York Times. http://partners.nytimes.com/library/national/science/062300sci-meteor-pact.html.
16. ↑ ^ Vagn F. Buchwald [da; de; Vagn Fabritius Buchwald; de; Vagn Buchwald]: Handbook of Iron Meteorites, University of California Press 1975.
17. ↑ Scott, E. R. D.; Wasson, J. T.; Buchwald, V. F. (1973). "The chemical classification of iron meteorites—VII. A reinvestigation of irons with Ge concentrations between 25 and 80 ppm". Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 37 (8): 1957–1983. doi:10.1016/0016-7037(73)90151-8. Bibcode: 1973GeCoA..37.1957S.
18. ↑ Lange, Erwin F. (1985). The Williamette Meteorite 1902 – 1962. Portland, Oregon: Portland State College. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XwhYgggGSMEnaAr4r0LXf0ZT_0h8Aovb/view. "republished from the original"
19. ↑ Oregon Iron Co. v. Hughes, 47 Or 313, 82 P 572 (1905).
20. ↑ Preston, Douglas. Strange Journey: Further Travels of The Willamette Meteorite. Meteor Treasures. Retrieved on October 31, 2007.
21. ↑ "Massive Meteorite Found in an Oregon Forest". Detroit Free Press: p. 5 (Sunday Magazine). September 3, 1905. https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-massive-meteorite-fou/165526340/. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
22. ↑ "Discuss Meteorite". The Minneapolis Journal (Minneapolis, Minnesota): p. 7. October 11, 1905. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-journal-discuss-meteorit/165526795/. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
23. ↑ "The World's Greatest Meteorites". Sidney Daily News (Sidney, Ohio): p. 3. March 15, 1906. https://www.newspapers.com/article/sidney-daily-news-the-worlds-greatest-m/165527145/. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
24. ↑ Fortier, Rénald (February 6, 2022). "Tomanowos, a visitor from the sky or Moon: A brief look at the largest North American meteorite known today". Ingenium. https://ingeniumcanada.org/channel/articles/tomanowos-a-visitor-from-the-sky-or-moon-a-brief-look-at-the-largest-north. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Chang, Kenneth (February 14, 2002). "Uproar Over a Sliced, and Revered, Meteorite". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/14/national/14METE.html.
26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "Tribe: Sale of space rock 'insensitive'". CNN. 2007-09-14. http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/09/14/meteorite.auction.ap/index.html.
27. ↑ "Willamette Meteorite to Return to Oregon as Part of Evergreen Aviation Museum's Collection". Salem-News.com. 2006-04-14. http://www.salem-news.com/articles/april142006/meteorite_41406.php.
28. ↑ Tims, Dana (2008-06-06). "Space history stands tall in museum". The Oregonian. http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1212717408193720.xml&coll=7.
29. ↑ "A Piece Of Sacred Meteorite Is Returned To An Oregon Tribe". Oregon Public Broadcasting. 2019-02-22. https://www.opb.org/news/article/tomanowos-sacred-meteorite-is-returned-oregon-confederated-tribes-grand-ronde.
30. ↑ Walsh, Edward (March 26, 2007). "Oregon's Pet Rock". http://blog.oregonlive.com/politics/2007/03/oregons_pet_rock.html.
31. ↑ "Cow-killing meteorite sells for $1,554". CNN. 2007-10-29. http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/10/29/meteorite.auction.ap/index.html.
32. ↑ The Oregonian, Saturday, October 20, 2007 - Apology/retraction on the editorial page
33. ↑ Chan, Sewell (September 14, 2007). "Tribe Alarmed by Auction of a Meteorite Fragment". The New York Times. http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/14/native-american-tribe-alarmed-by-auction-of-a-meteorite-fragment/.
34. ↑ Tims, Dana (October 22, 2007). "For sale: 30 pounds of controversy". The Oregonian. http://blog.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/2007/10/for_sale_30_pounds_of_controve.html.
35. ↑ Darryl Pitt v. Advance Publications, et al., Oregon Circuit Court, 0810-14798 (2008)
36. ↑ Meteoritical Bulletin Database: Willamette
37. ↑ Harry Y. McSween. Meteorites and Their Parent Planets. Cambridge University Press, 1999.
38. ↑ Planets Zone, Rose Center for Earth and Space. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved on August 16, 2008.
39. ↑ Arthur Ross Hall of Meteorites. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved on August 16, 2008.
40. ↑ AMNH Special Collections: Astronomy slides. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved on August 16, 2008.
41. ↑ "The Willamette Meteorite". https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent/the-universe/planets/planetary-impacts/willamette-meteorite. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
42. ↑ Geology Tour. University of Oregon: Museum of Natural History. Retrieved on October 31, 2007.
43. ↑ "The Willamette Meteorite, Information Sources and Links" . Clackamas County Oregon History and Genealogy. Retrieved on August 16, 2008.
44. ↑ Bartholomew, Holly (February 26, 2021). "Willamette Meteorite replica restored following vandalism". https://www.westlinntidings.com/news/willamette-meteorite-replica-restored-following-vandalism/article_6e204812-2529-58b7-a134-38f6b1c6b559.html. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
45. ↑ Peet, Roger (January 21, 2018). "Garrick Imatani - Rendering Culture and History". https://justseeds.org/garrick-imatani-rendering-culture-and-history/. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
46. ↑ Bull, Brian (10 May 2018). "A Sacred Meteor To Be Celebrated, Blessed, Through New Art Installation" (in en). https://www.klcc.org/post/sacred-meteor-be-celebrated-blessed-through-new-art-installation.
47. ↑ Fucigna, Nicola (January 2, 2018). "Sculpture of Meteorite Installed in Straub Hall Atrium". https://rowellbrokaw.com/blog/2018/1/2/sculpture-of-meteorite-in-straub-hall-atrium. Retrieved February 14, 2025.

## Further reading

* "Willamette Meteorite Agreement". American Museum of Natural History. June 22, 2000. https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent/the-universe/planets/planetary-impacts/willamette-meteorite/agreement.
* "About the Williamette [sic] Meteorite in Oregon". http://www.jjkent.com/articles/williamite-meteorite-oregon.htm.
* "April 1999 Field Trip Revue". Geological Society of the Oregon Country. http://www.gsoc.org/apr99.html.

## External links

* The Willamette Meteorite at amnh.org
* Ancient Aliens: Meteorite Message from the Sky Gods (Season 13) from History Channel via YouTube

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