Homestead (meteorite)

Homestead is a L5 meteorite fallen in 1875 in Iowa, United States.

Homestead
20.4 g partial slice taken from the 450 g fragment that resided in the AMNH for over a century
TypeChondrite
ClassOrdinary chondrite
GroupL5
CountryUnited States
RegionIowa
Coordinates41°48′N 91°52′W[1]
Observed fallYes
Fall date1875-02-12
TKW230 kg
Strewn fieldYes
Alternative namesAmana, Iowa County
Related media on Wikimedia Commons

History

On the evening of 12 February 1875 above Iowa a brilliant fireball was observed. About 100 meteorite fragments fell over a 18-square-mile (47 km2) snowy countryside area from Amana to Boltonville in Iowa County. The first found fragment, a stone weighing about 3.5 kilograms (7.7 lb), was discovered by Sarah Sherlock 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) south of Homestead.[2] The area was wooded and covered by snow, impeding recovery efforts. On 10 February a 40 centimetres (16 in) snowfall blanketed the ground, preventing the great majority of the fragments from being discovered until Spring. The 74 pounds (34 kg) main mass was found along with a 48 pounds (22 kg) fragment buried 2 feet (0.61 m) in the soil.[2]

As of December 2011, approximately 230 kilograms (510 lb) has been found.

  • Homestead meteorite strewnfield
  • 1875 drawing of some fragments
  • Crusted edge

Composition and classification

It is a L5 type ordinary chondrite. It is also brecciated and veined.

Notes
  1. Meteoritical Bulletin Database: Homestead
  2. Paul Garvin, Iowa's minerals: their occurrence, origins, industries, and lore. University of Iowa Press, 1998. 187

Bibliography
  • Ivanova, M. A.; Krot, A. N.; Mitreikina, O. B.; Zinovieva, N. G., "Chromite-rich Inclusions in the Homestead (L5) Chondrite", Abstracts of the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, volume 23, page 585, 03/1992.

See also
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