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Meteorites Found in New Mexico: 229 Documented

New Mexico has 229 officially recognized meteorites — 4 witnessed falls and 225 finds. The largest, Grant (Iron, IIIAB — iron meteorite — nickel-iron metal), weighed 525 kg. The record here spans 141 years — from Costilla Peak in 1881 to Zuni in 2022.

191 ordinary chondrites20 iron meteorites9 meteorites4 pallasites2 ureilites2 achondrite from asteroid Vestas1 carbonaceous chondrite
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Classification

☄

Fell vs. found

New Mexico Meteorites

Classification
☄ = witnessed fall

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The full record

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

GrantIron, IIIABFound 1929525 kg
Clovis (no. 1)H3.6Found 1961283 kg
Sacramento MountainsIron, IIIABFound 1890237.2 kg
Glorieta MountainPallasite, PMG-anFound 1884148 kg
ChicoL6Found 1954104.8 kg
MillsH6Found 197088 kg
Wagon MoundL6Found 193287.5 kg
AcmeH5Found 194775 kg
Portales ValleyH6☄ Fell 199871.4 kg
Gladstone (stone)H4Found 193657.3 kg
Roy (1933)L5Found 193347.2 kg
LakewoodL6Found 195546.5 kg
Sandia MountainsIron, IIABFound 192545 kg
BeenhamL5Found 193744.4 kg
MacyL6Found 198442 kg
Clovis (no. 2)L6Found 196341.3 kg
Melrose (a)L5Found 193336.4 kg
Costilla PeakIron, IIIABFound 188135.5 kg
La LandeL5Found 193330 kg
El CapitanIron, IIIABFound 189327.5 kg
Four CornersIron, IAB-ungFound 192425 kg
TaibanL5Found 193425 kg
PicachoIron, IIIABFound 195222 kg
AbbottH3-6Found 195121.1 kg
FarleyH5Found 193619.4 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 New Mexico?

229 meteorites from New Mexico are officially recognized in the scientific record — 4 witnessed falls and 225 finds.

What's the biggest meteorite ever found in New Mexico?

Grant, a Iron, IIIAB (iron meteorite — nickel-iron metal) weighing 525 kg, found in 1929.

Can I hunt for meteorites in New Mexico?

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 New Mexico →
Collecting sites, gem mines, and public land.
Gold prospecting in New Mexico →
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).