Meteorites Found in Georgia: 28 Documented

Georgia has 28 officially recognized meteorites — 7 witnessed falls and 21 finds. The largest, Sardis (Iron, IAB complex — iron meteorite — nickel-iron metal), weighed 800 kg. The record here spans 196 years — from Forsyth in 1829 to McDonough in 2025.

15 iron meteorites12 ordinary chondrites1 pallasite

Name	Classification	Mass	Fell / Found	Year	GPS
Sardis	Iron, IAB complex	800 kg	Found	1940	32.949, -81.865
Social Circle	Iron, IVA	99.3 kg	Found	1927	33.700, -83.700
Smithonia	Iron, IIAB	69.9 kg	Found	1940	34.000, -83.167
Dalton	Iron, IIIAB	53 kg	Found	1879	34.800, -84.983
Millen	H4	40.8 kg	Found	1975	32.835, -81.874
Putnam County	Iron, IVA	32.7 kg	Found	1839	33.250, -83.250
Forsyth	L6	16.3 kg	Fell	1829	33.017, -83.967
Holland's Store	Iron, IIAB	12.2 kg	Found	1887	34.367, -85.433
Cedartown	Iron, IIAB	11.3 kg	Found	1898	34.017, -85.267
Locust Grove	Iron, IIAB	10 kg	Found	1857	33.333, -84.100
Canton	Iron, IIIAB	7 kg	Found	1894	34.200, -84.483
Union County	Iron, IC	6.8 kg	Found	1853	34.750, -84.000
McDonough	L6	5.4 kg	Fell	2025	33.392, -84.207
Twin City	Iron, IAB-ung	5.1 kg	Found	1955	32.583, -82.017
Norristown	Iron, IIIAB	4.2 kg	Found	1965	32.517, -82.550
Pitts	Iron, IAB-ung	3.8 kg	Fell	1921	31.950, -83.517
Losttown	Iron, IID	3 kg	Found	1868	34.250, -84.500
Keysville	L6	2.7 kg	Found	2018	33.189, -82.239
Statesboro	L5	2.2 kg	Found	2000	32.438, -81.917
Junction City	L5	2 kg	Fell	2022	32.637, -84.416
Claxton	L6	1.5 kg	Fell	1984	32.102, -81.873
Paulding County	Iron	725 g	Found	1901	34.000, -84.800
Pickens County	H6	400 g	Found	1908	34.500, -84.500
Lumpkin	L6	340 g	Fell	1869	32.033, -84.767
Cartersville	L5	294 g	Fell	2009	34.202, -84.832
Jay Bird Springs	Pallasite	292 g	Found	2003	32.133, -82.983
Thomson	L6	218 g	Found	1888	33.467, -82.483
Enigma	H4	94 g	Found	1967	31.333, -82.317

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 Georgia?

28 meteorites from Georgia are officially recognized in the scientific record — 7 witnessed falls and 21 finds. The largest is Sardis at 800 kg.

Can I hunt for meteorites in Georgia?

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.

⚠️ 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).