Vernon County Meteorite Quick Facts
- Name: Vernon County
- Year Discovered: 1865
- Approximate Recovery Location: Genoa, Vernon County, Wisconsin, United States
- Precise Recovery Location: (43.5, -91.16667)
- Mass: 1500 grams
- Classification: H6
- Discovery Type: fall
- Condition: Valid
More Details About the Vernon County Meteorite
The Vernon County meteorite was discovered in 1865. It was recovered in Genoa, Vernon County, Wisconsin, United States (43.5, -91.16667). It has a mass of 1500 grams.
Vernon County is considered a “Valid” meteorite. “Valid” meteorites are typical meteorites with average weathering, while “relict” meteorites are those that have been extremely altered, either due to weathering over time or human intervention.
Vernon County’s official classification is H6. The “H6” classification refers to a high-iron, ordinary chondrite meteorite with distinct features like smaller chondrules and specific oxygen isotope ratios close to those found on Earth. This type 6 meteorite has undergone extensive metamorphism, leading to uniform mineral composition, larger secondary mineral sizes, and the fading of many chondrule outlines, yet without any melting.
The Vernon County meteorite is a “fall” meteorite. Meteorites are classified as “falls” if they were observed falling and recovered, while “finds” are those discovered later, often weathered by longer exposure to Earth’s environment and without a record of being seen as they fell.
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Last Updated: 12/29/23