Impact Earth

As Canada’s leading research center, the Institute for Earth and Space Exploration at Western University is home to a collection of nearly 300 meteorites and provides a means for our researchers and students to examine and explore planetary materials and processes. This collection contains a spectacular range of international and Canadian observed fall meteorites including the main mass of the Dresden ordinary chondrite (1939), large portions of the Tagish Lake carbonaceous chondrite (2000), and the Grimsby ordinary chondrite (2009).

The Western Meteorite Collection is an approved repository of the Meteoritical Society. Our researchers’ laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation for meteorite classifications and research studies.

Our researchers can establish the physical characteristics of meteorites such as their magnetic susceptibility, density, porosity, or 3D computed tomography X-ray scans to vision their interiors. They can measure the chemical compositions of meteorites by electron microprobe (EPMA Lab) for in-situ mineral analyses. We can also measure the isotopic compositions of meteorites for their oxygen (LSIS) for classifications or to establish their origin and formation.

If you are a researcher interested in applying for a sample loan for your research activities or if you need to obtain meteorite analyses for classification or collaborative research, please contact the Western Meteorite Collection Curator. 

The meteorite collection also facilitates Western Space’s teaching and outreach programs by providing samples for laboratory classes in undergraduate and graduate courses and for outreach activities on campus and in local schools. These materials provide students with a hands-on learning experience where they get to look at the oldest rocks formed in the Solar System!

The Western Meteorite collection has a meteorite display located on the first floor of the Biological and Geological Sciences Building on the Western campus. It is accessible during the building opening hours from Monday to Friday, and during our open house events.

The collection is also engaged in public events throughout the year, in partnership with the Cronyn Observatory at Western. Meteorite enthusiasts are invited to bring their rocks which they think may be meteorites. Our current annual event is on Asteroid Day on June 30th. Other events may be organized throughout the year, please check our Events page for more details.

If you can’t wait till then and think you’ve found a potential meteorite here are some useful resources to help.

If you believe that you may have found a meteorite and are interested in having our department review your specimen, please first review our flowchart to help determine if your rock may be a meteorite. If your rock passes the flowchart test and you would like our department to review your specimen, please fill out our meteorite inquiry form located here, and submit photos of your rock to geocollections@uwo.ca.

The Western University Meteorite Collection relies on the service and volunteering of university personnel. Due to a substantial rise in demand as well as budget constraints and staff limitations, the Western Meteorite Collection is in no way responsible for answering emails and voicemails, or for returning any specimens sent to us. Staff members are available for walk-in opportunities only during our organized public events (see above).

Please check the links above first and carefully start your evaluation. Many Earth rocks might look like meteorites, but meteorites have distinct physical characteristics that set them apart from Earth rocks. They are highlighted on the above linked pages and on our meteorite information pages.