Meteorites Found in Missouri: 24 Documented

Missouri has 24 officially recognized meteorites — 8 witnessed falls and 16 finds. The largest, St. Genevieve County (Iron, IIIF — iron meteorite — nickel-iron metal), weighed 244.5 kg. The record here spans 176 years — from Little Piney in 1839 to Licking in 2015.

11 ordinary chondrites9 iron meteorites2 pallasites1 mesosiderite1 carbonaceous chondrite

Name	Classification	Mass	Fell / Found	Year	GPS
St. Genevieve County	Iron, IIIF	244.5 kg	Found	1888	37.967, -90.317
Faucett	H5	100 kg	Found	1966	39.617, -94.867
Mincy	Mesosiderite-B4	89.4 kg	Found	1857	36.550, -93.100
Jenkins	Iron, IAB-MG	55.4 kg	Found	1946	36.824, -93.761
Harrisonville	L6	46.5 kg	Found	1933	38.650, -94.333
Butler	Iron, ungrouped	41 kg	Found	1874	38.300, -94.367
Kansas City (1903)	H5	36 kg	Found	1903	39.100, -94.633
Seymour	Iron, IAB-MG	25.9 kg	Found	1940	37.237, -92.787
Billings	Iron, IIIAB	24.5 kg	Found	1903	37.067, -93.550
Perryville	Iron, IIC	17.5 kg	Found	1906	37.733, -89.850
Conception Junction	Pallasite, PMG-an	17 kg	Found	2006	40.267, -94.683
Lanton	Iron, IIIAB	13.8 kg	Found	1932	36.533, -91.800
Licking	Iron, IVA	8.1 kg	Found	2015	37.480, -91.871
Archie	H6	5.1 kg	Fell	1932	38.500, -94.300
St. Francois County	Iron, IC	3.6 kg	Found	1863	37.750, -90.500
Cape Girardeau	H6	2.3 kg	Fell	1846	37.267, -89.583
Milton	Pallasite, ungrouped	2 kg	Found	2000	40.288, -95.377
Warrenton	CO3.7	1.6 kg	Fell	1877	38.683, -91.150
St. Louis	H4	1 kg	Fell	1950	38.700, -90.233
Independence	L6	880 g	Fell	1917	39.083, -94.400
Baxter	L6	611 g	Fell	1916	36.750, -93.500
De Kalb	H	566 g	Found	1969	39.592, -94.922
Little Piney	L5	491 g	Fell	1839	37.917, -92.083
Palmyra	L3	135 g	Fell	1926	39.800, -91.500

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 Missouri?

24 meteorites from Missouri are officially recognized in the scientific record — 8 witnessed falls and 16 finds. The largest is St. Genevieve County at 244.5 kg.

Can I hunt for meteorites in Missouri?

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).