White Mountain Apache Tribe welcomes 'significant' discovery of meteorites

Thursday, June 30, 2016  

In partnership with the White Mountain Apache Tribe, a team of researchers from Arizona State University discovered 15 meteorites on the Fort Apache Reservation.

The meteorites fell to earth earlier this month. Researchers from ASU, accompanied by the tribe's chief ranger and game and fish director, uncovered the extraterrestrial objects after an exhausting 132-hour search in the White Mountains.

“Like all discoveries, something of this magnitude bridges the gap of earth science,” Chairman Ronnie Lupe said in an ASU press release. “They say meteorites crashing down upon the Earth's surface is relatively common; however, to have them land on tribal lands is significant in discovery.”

ASU Now on Vimeo: Tracking Down the Arizona Fireball

The tribe will retain ownership of the meteorites while they are curated by ASU's Center for Meteorite Studies. They range in size from a medium-sized strawberry to a pea, according to the university.

The meteorites came from a huge fireball that was observed over the Arizona sky on June 2. It was only the fourth recorded fall in Arizona history, according to ASU.

“Every new meteorite adds a piece to the puzzle of where we came from,” Laurence Garvie, the curator of the Center for Meteorite Studies, said. “We need to stress how grateful we are to the White Mountain Apache Tribal Chairman Ronnie Lupe for giving us access. This area is normally totally off limits to non-tribal members.”

Get the Story:
Meteorites from fireball seen over Arizona found (AP 6/29)
Meteorites older than Earth discovered in Eastern Arizona (KPHO/KTVK 6/29)
ASU researchers find pieces of meteorite (KSAX 6/29)
ASU meteorite hunters find pieces from Arizona asteroid (The Arizona Republic 6/29)
ASU group finds meteorites from June 2 fireball (KPNX 6/29)