Meteorites Found in Arizona: 185 Documented
Arizona has 185 officially recognized meteorites — 7 witnessed falls and 178 finds. The largest, Canyon Diablo (Iron, IAB-MG — iron meteorite — nickel-iron metal), weighed ≈30 tonnes. The record here spans 175 years — from Tucson in 1850 to Columbus Peak in 2025. Famous names include Canyon Diablo, Holbrook, Gold Basin.
Classification
Fell vs. found
Arizona Meteorites
Famous Arizona meteorites
The iron that dug Meteor Crater ~50,000 years ago. Fragments scattered across the surrounding plain have supplied museums (and the jewelry trade) for over a century. The crater itself is private land — the surrounding public ground is where fragments were found.
A 1912 Arizona fall that dropped an estimated 14,000+ small stones along the railroad near Holbrook. Collectors still walk the strewn field today, and fresh finds are still made after rains.
A huge, diffuse strewn field in Mohave County, Arizona, discovered in 1995 by a retired professor metal-detecting for gold nuggets. Thousands of weathered chondrite fragments have been recovered — the classic beginner strewn field.
Another productive Arizona strewn field, found in 2002 near the Franconia railroad siding. Hunters with metal detectors continue to pull chondrites (and several distinct meteorites) from the area.
The full record
185 meteorites · exact coordinates in the map popups; entries marked “location withheld” are protected by the scientific record.
Reading the classifications
The most common meteorites — stony, with visible metal flecks. H = high iron content, L = low, LL = very low. The digit (3–6) says how much the parent asteroid heated it: 3 is the most pristine.
Primitive, carbon-bearing stones that predate the planets — some carry water-bearing minerals and amino acids. Fragile and rare on the ground.
Solid nickel-iron from the shattered cores of asteroids. Dense, magnetic, and the easiest meteorites to recognize — most of the biggest US finds are irons.
The showpieces: pallasites are gem-quality olivine suspended in polished metal, from the core-mantle boundary of destroyed asteroids.
Volcanic rocks from bodies large enough to melt — most trace to the asteroid Vesta; the rarest are from the Moon and Mars.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many meteorites have been found in Arizona?
185 meteorites from Arizona are officially recognized in the scientific record — 7 witnessed falls and 178 finds.
What's the biggest meteorite ever found in Arizona?
Canyon Diablo, a Iron, IAB-MG (iron meteorite — nickel-iron metal) weighing ≈30 tonnes, found in 1891.
Can I hunt for meteorites in Arizona?
On BLM-managed public land, casual collecting is legal without a permit: surface finds, up to 10 lb per person per year, personal use only. National parks prohibit all collecting, and on private land the meteorite belongs to the landowner. Always verify land status before hunting.
How do I know if a rock is a meteorite?
Quick field checks: meteorites are unusually dense, most attract a magnet (iron-nickel content), fresh ones have a thin black fusion crust, and many show regmaglypts (thumbprint-like depressions). Slag and magnetite are the common false alarms — our 60-second field test walks through all of it.
⚠️ Always verify current regulations, weather conditions, and access requirements before visiting any location. Information provided is based on community submissions and may not be current or accurate.
Coordinates are historical find locations from the scientific record, often approximate — not guaranteed collecting spots; verify land status and permissions before hunting. Source of record: Meteoritical Bulletin Database (Meteoritical Society).