Willamette Meteorite
1126068
224897329
2008-07-10T22:08:39Z
EncMstr
551385
better coord calculated 2 mi NW from plaque on marker at 45.343596,-122.656746 which, rounded, happily falls on public land
{{Meteorite
|Name= Willamette
|Image= Willamette Meteorite AMNH.jpg
|Image_caption= Willamette Meteorite at the American Museum of Natural History
|Image_width= 250px
|Type= [[Iron meteorite|Iron]]
|Class=
|Group= IIIAB
|Structural_classification= Medium [[Octahedrite]]
|Composition= 7.62% [[Nickel|Ni]], 18.6ppm [[Gallium|Ga]], 37.3ppm [[Germanium|Ge]], 4.7ppm [[Iridium|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]]<ref name=AMJ />
|Image2=
|Image2_caption=
}}
The '''Willamette Meteorite''', officially named '''Willamette'''<ref name=database>[http://tin.er.usgs.gov/meteor/metbull.php?sea=willamette&sfor=names&ants=&falls=&stype=contains&lrec=50&map=ge&browse=&country=All&srt=name&categ=All&mblist=All&phot=&snew=0&pnt=no&code=24269 Meteoritical Bulletin Database: Willamette]</ref><ref>O. Richard Norton. ''Rocks from Space''. USA, Mountain Press, 1994.</ref>, 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<ref name=AMNH>{{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}}</ref>. No [[impact crater]] was preserved at the discovery site; it is possible that the meteorite landed in what is now [[Canada]] and was [[Glacial erratic|transported]] to where it was found by moving [[ice sheets]].<ref name=NYT>{{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}}</ref>
==Physical characteristics==
The Willamette Meteorite weighs about 32,000 [[pound (mass)|pound]]s or 15.5 tons. It is classified as a [[meteorite classification|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 [[metre|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, Oregon|West Linn]]. Although apparently known to Native Americans, its modern discovery was made by settler Ellis Hughes in 1902. At this 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.<ref>Preston, Douglas. [http://www.usgennet.org/alhnorus/ahorclak/MeteorTreasures.html Strange Journey: Further Travels of The Willamette Meteorite.] Meteor Treasures, accessed [[October 31]] [[2007]].</ref>
[[Image:willamette meteorite.jpg|frame|Willamette Meteorite in the early 20th century]]
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.<ref name="UofO">[http://natural-history.uoregon.edu/Pages/web/meteorite.htm Geology Tour.] University of Oregon: Museum of Natural History, accessed [[October 31]] [[2007]].</ref>
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 Americans in the United States|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.<ref>Sullivan, John. [http://www.meteoritearticles.com/znp06232000.html Pact Leaves Meteorite With Museum.] ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[June 23]] [[2000]].</ref>
In response to a student's request in 2007, [[Oregon House of Representatives|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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
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 (tribe)|Clackamas Indians]].<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/09/14/meteorite.auction.ap/index.html Tribe: Sale of space rock 'insensitive'.] CNN.com, accessed [[September 15]] [[2007]].</ref> The meterorite section did not bring the price expected, however, and it was withdrawn from sale.<ref>[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, accessed [[October 31]] [[2007]].</ref>
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]].<ref name=sn>{{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}}</ref><ref name=tims>{{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]]}}</ref>
==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 [[tonne]]s'')<ref name=database>[http://tin.er.usgs.gov/meteor/metbull.php?sea=willamette&sfor=names&ants=&falls=&stype=contains&lrec=50&map=ge&browse=&country=All&srt=name&categ=All&mblist=All&phot=&snew=0&pnt=no&code=24269 Meteoritical Bulletin Database: Willamette]</ref> to 12700 [[kg]]<ref>Harry Y. McSween. ''Meteorites and Their Parent Planets''. Cambridge University Press, 1999. [http://books.google.it/books?id=hFJ25RVuXfsC&pg=PA9&dq=Willamette+meteorite+kg&lr=&sig=ACfU3U0T6oUurVoo9-EfJ0ffiMJiSaiOFw#PPA9,M1] </ref>
Even the official American Museum of Natural History website reports both "''15.5 tons''"<ref>[http://www.amnh.org/rose/meteorite.html American Museum of Natural History Official Website, http://www.amnh.org/rose/meteorite.html]</ref> and "''14 tons''"<ref>[http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent/meteorites/what/looklike.php American Museum of Natural History Official Website, http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent/meteorites/what/looklike.php]</ref><ref>[http://library.amnh.org/special/astronomy.html American Museum of Natural History Official Website, http://library.amnh.org/special/astronomy.html]</ref>. 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''<ref name=AMJ>The American Museum Journal, American Museum of Natural History, 1906.</ref>.
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]].
==Replicas==
[[Image:Willamette Meteorite Marker.jpg|right|thumb|A small-scale replica of the meteorite in the Willamette area of [[West Linn, OR]]. The plaque reads: ''In 1902 Ellis Hughes discovered the 15 1/2 ton Willamette Meteorite, the largest ever found in the United States, about 2 miles N.W. of this place. Marker erected August 4, 1962 by West Linn Fair Board.'']]
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.<ref name="UofO"/> Another replica stands near the Willamette Methodist Church in West Linn, Oregon.<ref>[http://www.usgennet.org/alhnorus/ahorclak/WMSource.html The Willamette Meteorite, Information Sources and LInks<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Refimprove|date=November 2007}}
==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 <nowiki>[sic]</nowiki> Meteorite in Oregon]
[[Category:Native American religion]]
[[Category:Geology of Oregon]]
[[Category:Sacred rocks]]
[[Category:West Linn, Oregon]]
[[ja:ウィラメッテ隕石]]
[[nn:Willamette-meteoritten]]
[[ru:Вилламетт (метеорит)]]