Meteorites Found in Kentucky: 26 Documented

Kentucky has 26 officially recognized meteorites — 6 witnessed falls and 20 finds. The largest, Kenton County (Iron, IIIAB — iron meteorite — nickel-iron metal), weighed 194 kg. The record here spans 182 years — from Smithland in 1839 to Handys Bend in 2021.

15 iron meteorites7 ordinary chondrites2 pallasites1 aubrite1 carbonaceous chondrite

Name	Classification	Mass	Fell / Found	Year	GPS
Kenton County	Iron, IIIAB	194 kg	Found	1889	38.817, -84.600
Mount Vernon	Pallasite, PMG	159 kg	Found	1868	36.933, -87.400
Bath Furnace	L6	86 kg	Fell	1902	38.250, -83.750
Nelson County	Iron, IIIF	73 kg	Found	1856	37.750, -85.500
La Grange	Iron, IVA	50.8 kg	Found	1860	38.400, -85.367
Eagle Station	Pallasite, PES	36 kg	Found	1880	38.617, -84.967
Glasgow	Iron, IIIAB	20.4 kg	Found	1922	37.017, -85.917
Cumberland Falls	Aubrite	17 kg	Fell	1919	36.833, -84.350
Campbellsville	Iron, IIIAB	15.4 kg	Found	1929	37.367, -85.367
Murray	CM2	12.6 kg	Fell	1950	36.600, -88.100
Clark County	Iron, IIIF	11.3 kg	Found	1937	38.000, -84.167
Frankfort (iron)	Iron, IIIAB	10.9 kg	Found	1866	38.200, -84.833
Edmonton (Kentucky)	Iron, IAB-sLM	10.2 kg	Found	1942	37.033, -85.633
Scottsville	Iron, IIAB	10 kg	Found	1867	36.767, -86.167
Franklin	H5	9.1 kg	Found	1921	36.717, -86.567
Marshall County	Iron, IIIAB	6.8 kg	Found	1860	37.000, -88.250
Providence	Iron, IIIAB	6.8 kg	Found	1903	38.567, -85.233
Cynthiana	L/LL4	6 kg	Fell	1877	38.400, -84.250
Smithland	Iron, IVA	5 kg	Found	1839	37.133, -88.400
Salt River	Iron, IIC	3.6 kg	Found	1850	37.950, -85.783
Handys Bend	Iron, IIIAB	3.2 kg	Found	2021	37.808, -84.668
Walltown	L6	1.6 kg	Found	1956	37.325, -84.717
Burnwell	H4-an	1.5 kg	Fell	1990	37.622, -82.237
Louisville	L6	1.3 kg	Fell	1977	38.250, -85.750
Casey County	Iron, IAB-MG	723 g	Found	1877	37.250, -85.000
Monticello	Howardite	210 g	Found	—	36.950, -84.900

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 Kentucky?

26 meteorites from Kentucky are officially recognized in the scientific record — 6 witnessed falls and 20 finds. The largest is Kenton County at 194 kg.

Can I hunt for meteorites in Kentucky?

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).