Willamette Meteorite

Meteorite
Name= Willamette


Image_caption= Willamette Meteorite at the American Museum of Natural History
Image_width= 250px
Type= Iron
Class=
Group= IIIAB
Structural_classification= Medium Octahedrite
Composition= 7.62% Ni, 18.6ppm Ga, 37.3ppm Ge, 4.7ppm Ir
Shock=
Weathering=
Country= United States
Region= Oregon
Lat_Long= coord|45|22|N|122|41|W|display=inline,title
Observed_fall= No
Fall_date=
Found_date= 1902
TKW= 14150 kg


Image2_caption= The Willamette Meteorite, officially named Willamette, [http://tin.er.usgs.gov/meteor/metbull.php?sea=willamette&sfor=names&ants=&falls=&stype=contains&lrec=50&
] The Meteoritical Society. Retrieved on August 16 2008.] [O. Richard Norton. "Rocks from Space". USA, Mountain Press, 1994.] is an iron-nickel meteorite discovered in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is the largest meteorite found in the United States and the sixth largest in the world.cite web |url=http://www.amnh.org/rose/meteorite.html |title= Cullman Hall of the Universe: The Willamette Meteorite |publisher= American Museum of Natural History |accessdate=2007-11-02] No impact crater was preserved at the discovery site; it is possible that the meteorite landed in what is now Canada and was transported to where it was found by moving ice sheets.cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |url=http://www.meteoritearticles.com/znp02142002.html |title=Uproar Over a Sliced, and Revered, Meteorite |date= February 14 2002 |publisher= "New York Times" (via meteoritearticles.com) |accessdate=2007-11-02]

Physical characteristics

The Willamette Meteorite weighs about 32,000 pounds or 15.5 tons. It is classified as a type III iron meteorite, being composed of over 91% iron and about 8% nickel, with traces of cobalt and phosphorus. The approximate dimensions of the meteorite are 10 feet (3.05 m) tall by 6.5 feet (1.98 m) wide by 4.25 feet (1.3 m) deep. The distinctive pitting on the surface of the meteorite is believed to have resulted from both its high-speed atmospheric entry and subsequent weathering. In the case of weathering, rainwater interacted with the mineral troilite, resulting in a form of sulfuric acid which slowly dissolved portions of the meteorite. This resulted (over a very long period) in many of the pits that are visible today. Willamette has a recrystallized structure with only traces of a medium Widmanstätten pattern, it is the result of a significant impact-heating event on the parent body.

Modern history

The Willamette Meteorite was discovered in the Willamette Valley of Oregon near the modern city of West Linn. Although apparently known to Native Americans, its modern discovery was made by settler Ellis Hughes in 1902. At that time the land was owned by the Oregon Iron and Steel Company. Hughes recognized the meteorite's significance, and in an attempt to claim ownership, secretly moved it to his own land. This involved 90 days of hard work to cover the 3/4 mile (1200 m) distance. The move was discovered, and after a lawsuit, the Oregon Iron and Steel Company was recognized as the legal owner. [Preston, Douglas. [http://www.usgennet.org/alhnorus/ahorclak/MeteorTreasures.html Strange Journey: Further Travels of The Willamette Meteorite.] Meteor Treasures. Retrieved on October 31 2007.]

In 1905 the meteorite was purchased by Mrs. William E. Dodge for $26,000. After being displayed at the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition, it was donated to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City where it is now on display. [http://natural-history.uoregon.edu/Pages/web/meteorite.htm Geology Tour.] University of Oregon: Museum of Natural History. Retrieved on October 31 2007.]

The meteorite was an object venerated by the Native American tribe inhabiting the area where it was found. The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, a confederation of Native American tribes, used the meteorite, which they call "Tomanowos", in an annual ceremony, and have requested that it be returned. The tribes reached an agreement with the museum in 2000. This states that tribal members may conduct a private ceremony around the meteorite once a year, and that ownership will be transferred to them should the museum stop using it for display. [Sullivan, John. [http://www.meteoritearticles.com/znp06232000.html Pact Leaves Meteorite With Museum.] "The New York Times", June 23 2000.]

In response to a student's request in 2007, Representative John Lim introduced a resolution that would demand that the museum return the meteorite to Oregon. The tribes said they were not consulted, they did not support the resolution, and were content with the current arrangement with the museum. [cite news
last=Walsh
first=Edward
title=House caught between a rock and a hard place
url=http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/stories/index.ssf?/base/news/117496592173490.xml&coll=7
date=March 27, 2007
accessdate=2007-03-29]

A convert|30|lb|kg|adj=on piece of the meteorite that had been traded to an individual for a Mars meteorite was planned to be auctioned in October 2007, which led to claims of insensitivity by the Clackamas Indians. [ [http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/09/14/meteorite.auction.ap/index.html Tribe: Sale of space rock 'insensitive'.] CNN.com. Retrieved on September 15 2007.] The meterorite section did not bring the price expected, however, and it was withdrawn from sale. [ [http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/10/29/meteorite.auction.ap/index.html?iref=newssearch Cow-killing meteorite sells for $1,554.] CNN.com. Retrieved on October 31 2007.]

A convert|4.5|oz|g|adj=on, convert|7.5|in|cm|adj=on piece of the meteorite purchased in a 2006 auction is on display at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.cite web|url=http://www.salem-news.com/articles/april142006/meteorite_41406.php|title=Willamette Meteorite to Return to Oregon as Part of Evergreen Aviation Museum's Collection|publisher=Salem-News.com|accessdate=2008-06-06|date=2006-04-14] cite news|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1212717408193720.xml&coll=7|last=Tims|first=Dana|title=Space history stands tall in museum| date=2008-06-06|accessdate=2008-06-06|work=The Oregonian]

Weight

There is some confusion about the actual weight of the Willamette meteorite due difference between metric tons and short tons, often both referred simply as "tons".The result is that several sources report different weights ranging from 15500 kg ("15.5 tonnes") [http://tin.er.usgs.gov/meteor/metbull.php?sea=willamette&sfor=names&ants=&falls=&stype=contains&lrec=50&
] ] to 12700 kg [Harry Y. McSween. [http://books.google.it/books?id=hFJ25RVuXfsC&pg=PA9&dq=Willamette+meteorite+kg&lr=&sig=ACfU3U0T6oUurVoo9-EfJ0ffiMJiSaiOFw#PPA9,M1 "Meteorites and Their Parent Planets".] Cambridge University Press, 1999.] The official American Museum of Natural History website also reports both "15.5 tons" [ [http://www.amnh.org/rose/meteorite.html Planets Zone, Rose Center for Earth and Space.] American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved on August 16 2008.] and "14 tons" [ [http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent/meteorites/what/looklike.php Arthur Ross Hall of Meteorites.] American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved on August 16 2008.] [ [http://library.amnh.org/special/astronomy.html AMNH Special Collections: Astronomy slides.] American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved on August 16 2008.] . However "15500 kg" are likely 15.5 "short tons" converted as "metric tons" and "12700 kg" are likely "14 metric tons" converted as "short tons".Moreover in 1906 the American Museum of Natural History itself stated that the weight of the Willamette meteorite was "at least 31200 pounds, or about 15.6 tons".The American Museum Journal, American Museum of Natural History, 1906.] After these considerations it is safe to assume that the real weight of the meteorite is about 14150 kg = 15.6 short tons = 14.15 tonnes.Fact|date=August 2008Or|date=August 2008

Replicas

A replica of the meteorite is in Eugene, Oregon, outside the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History on the University of Oregon campus. Another replica stands near the Willamette Methodist Church in West Linn, Oregon. [ [http://www.usgennet.org/alhnorus/ahorclak/WMSource.html The Willamette Meteorite, Information Sources and Links.] Clackamas County Oregon History and Genealogy. Retrieved on August 16 2008.]

References

External links

* [http://www.amnh.org/rose/meteorite_agreement.html On the agreement between American Museum of Natural History and the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community]
* [http://www.mindat.org/loc-31274.html Map reference]
* [http://www.grandronde.org/Search.aspx?s=Meteorite Articles search result for "Meteorite" on the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde website]
* [http://www.gsoc.org/apr99.html Geological Society of Oregon on the Missoula Floods & the Willamette Meteorite]
* [http://www.jjkent.com/articles/williamite-meteorite-oregon.htm About the Williamette [sic] Meteorite in Oregon]