Meteorites Found in New York: 11 Documented

New York has 11 officially recognized meteorites — 4 witnessed falls and 7 finds. The largest, Burlington (Iron, IIIE — iron meteorite — nickel-iron metal), weighed 68 kg. The record here spans 174 years — from Cambria in 1818 to Peekskill in 1992.

6 ordinary chondrites5 iron meteorites

Name	Classification	Mass	Fell / Found	Year	GPS
Burlington	Iron, IIIE	68 kg	Found	1819	42.750, -75.183
Cambria	Iron, ungrouped	16.3 kg	Found	1818	43.200, -78.800
Peekskill	H6	12.6 kg	Fell	1992	41.283, -73.917
South Byron	Iron, ungrouped	6 kg	Found	1915	43.033, -78.033
Seneca Falls	Iron, IIIAB	4 kg	Found	1850	42.917, -76.783
Tomhannock Creek	H5	1.5 kg	Found	1863	42.883, -73.600
Lasher Creek	Iron	640 g	Found	1948	42.833, -74.500
Schenectady	H5	283 g	Fell	1968	42.861, -73.950
Yorktown (New York)	L5	250 g	Fell	1869	41.283, -73.817
Bethlehem	H6	13.9 g	Fell	1859	42.578, -73.822
Mount Morris (New York)	H	12.5 g	Found	1897	42.700, -77.883

Famous New York meteorites

Peekskill — H6, 1992, 12.6 kg

Fell in 1992 after a fireball seen from Kentucky to Ontario — and punched through the trunk of a parked Chevy Malibu in Peekskill, NY. The car became a museum piece that has toured the world.

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 York?

11 meteorites from New York are officially recognized in the scientific record — 4 witnessed falls and 7 finds. The largest is Burlington at 68 kg.

Can I hunt for meteorites in New York?

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).