Meteorites Found in California: 269 Documented

California has 269 officially recognized meteorites — 5 witnessed falls and 264 finds. The largest, Owens Valley (Iron, IIIAB — iron meteorite — nickel-iron metal), weighed 192.8 kg. The record here spans 152 years — from Shingle Springs in 1869 to Coyote Dry Lake 351 in 2021.

233 ordinary chondrites16 carbonaceous chondrites15 iron meteorites3 meteorites1 ureilite1 martian meteorite

California Meteorites

Classification

☄ = witnessed fall

From The Market

specimens and fossils from vetted rockhoundsExplore The Market →

Featured

3.70” Megalodon Shark Tooth Fossil (RH119)

Otodus Megalodon — Offshore, NC

$90Natural

Yooperlite (Syenite/Sodalite)

Yooperlite — Whitefish point, Michigan

$44Natural

Yellow Jasper and Agate Lapidary Rough - 3 Piece Lot

$20

Agatized Petrified Wood / Banded Jasper Lapidary Rough - 3 Piece Lot

$20

The full record

269 meteorites · exact coordinates in the map popups; entries marked “location withheld” are protected by the scientific record.

Owens ValleyIron, IIIABFound 1913192.8 kg

BrucevilleL6Found 199883 kg

IvanpahIron, IIIABFound 188058 kg

Red RockIron, IIIABFound 197647.6 kg

NeedlesIron, IIDFound 196245.3 kg

Shingle SpringsIron, ungroupedFound 186939 kg

San EmigdioH4Found 188736 kg

OcotilloIron, IAB-MGFound 199028.6 kg

OrovilleIron, IIIABFound 189324.5 kg

Twentynine PalmsLFound 194419.7 kg

LittlerockH6Found 197919.1 kg

Halloran SpringIron, IIIABFound 201918.2 kg

Pinto MountainsL6Found 195417.9 kg

NeenachL6Found 194813.8 kg

Danby Dry LakeH6Found 20009 kg

Canyon CityIron, IIIABFound 18758.6 kg

VenturaIron, IAB-ungFound 19537.7 kg

Coyote Dry Lake 033H5Found 19995.2 kg

EssexH5Found 20025 kg

Coyote Dry Lake 349H6Found 20154 kg

North EdwardsL6Found 19763 kg

Cargo Muchacho MountainsCO3Found 20002.9 kg

Coyote Dry Lake 024H5Found 19992.4 kg

BorregoL6Found 19302.1 kg

Coyote Dry Lake 061H5Found 19992.1 kg

Reading the classifications

H, L, LL (ordinary chondrites)

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.

Carbonaceous chondrites (CM, CV, CO…)

Primitive, carbon-bearing stones that predate the planets — some carry water-bearing minerals and amino acids. Fragile and rare on the ground.

Irons (IAB, IIIAB…)

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.

Pallasites & mesosiderites (stony-irons)

The showpieces: pallasites are gem-quality olivine suspended in polished metal, from the core-mantle boundary of destroyed asteroids.

Achondrites (eucrite, howardite…)

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 California?

269 meteorites from California are officially recognized in the scientific record — 5 witnessed falls and 264 finds.

What's the biggest meteorite ever found in California?

Owens Valley, a Iron, IIIAB (iron meteorite — nickel-iron metal) weighing 192.8 kg, found in 1913.

Can I hunt for meteorites in California?

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.

Think you found one? →

The 60-second meteorite field test.

Rockhounding in California →

Collecting sites, gem mines, and public land.

Gold prospecting in California →

Panning creeks and placer ground, mapped.

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).