Richardton meteorite, Meteorite fall site near Richardton, North Dakota, United States
The Richardton meteorite is a stony meteorite that fell in North Dakota in 1918 and is now preserved in collections and museums worldwide. The recovered fragments display the dark fusion crust characteristic of objects that traveled through the Earth's atmosphere.
The meteorite arrived from space on June 30, 1918 around 21:48 and was witnessed by residents across a wide region of North Dakota. The event drew immediate attention from the scientific community.
Scientists and researchers examine the Richardton meteorite specimens to study the formation of our solar system and understand cosmic chronology through isotope analysis.
Visitors can view fragments in natural history museums and scientific institutions where they are displayed with information about their origins. Most accessible specimens are housed in stable collections that protect the material from weathering.
A distinctive feature of this meteorite is the scientific detection of rare isotopes that provide insight into the earliest history of our solar system. Such chemical clues enable researchers to understand conditions that existed before the planets formed.
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