Meteorites Found in Oregon: 6 Documented

Oregon has 6 officially recognized meteorites — 1 witnessed fall and 5 finds. The largest, Morrow County (L6 — ordinary chondrite (low iron)), weighed 18.2 kg. The record here spans 105 years — from Sam's Valley in 1894 to Morrow County in 1999.

4 iron meteorites2 ordinary chondrites

Name	Classification	Mass	Fell / Found	Year	GPS
Morrow County	L6	18.2 kg	Found	1999	45.500, -119.500
Klamath Falls	Iron, IIIF	17 kg	Found	1952	42.167, -121.850
Sam's Valley	Iron, IIIAB	6.9 kg	Found	1894	42.533, -122.875
Fitzwater Pass	Iron, IIIF	65.4 g	Found	1974	42.038, -120.589
Salem	L6	61.4 g	Fell	1981	44.979, -122.969
Willamette	Iron, IIIAB	—	Found	1902	45.367, -122.583

Famous Oregon meteorites

Willamette — Iron, IIIAB, 1902

The largest meteorite ever found in the US — a 15.5-ton iron discovered in Oregon in 1902, now the centerpiece of the American Museum of Natural History. No impact crater was ever found; glaciers likely rafted it from Canada.

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 Oregon?

6 meteorites from Oregon are officially recognized in the scientific record — 1 witnessed falls and 5 finds. The largest is Morrow County at 18.2 kg.

Can I hunt for meteorites in Oregon?

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).