description Tagish Lake Overview
On 18 January 2000, the Tagish Lake meteorite fell over northwestern British Columbia, Canada, leaving fragments on the lake's frozen surface. Some residents collected pieces promptly and kept them frozen, reducing contact with liquid water and limiting terrestrial contamination. This careful early handling preserved unusually pristine material for studies in which even small changes after arrival on Earth can complicate interpretation. Classified as a C2 ungrouped carbonaceous chondrite, Tagish Lake contains hydrated minerals and organic material.
Its carbon-rich composition and evidence of alteration by water make it useful for investigating primitive asteroids and chemistry in the early Solar System. The organic compounds are studied as chemical records, rather than treated as evidence of living organisms. What distinguishes the fall is the combination of this scientifically valuable composition with the preservation of samples under cold conditions.
help Tagish Lake FAQ
Why was the frozen surface of Tagish Lake important to the recovery?
The meteorite fell onto frozen Tagish Lake in British Columbia in January 2000. Collectors recovered some pieces without touching them directly and kept them frozen, limiting contamination and terrestrial alteration.
What makes the Tagish Lake meteorite unusually primitive?
Tagish Lake is a carbon-rich carbonaceous chondrite containing fragile material inherited from the early solar system. Its chemistry and mineralogy resemble some of the most primitive known asteroid material.
Did anyone witness the Tagish Lake meteorite fall?
Residents of northern British Columbia and the Yukon observed a bright fireball and atmospheric explosions in January 2000. The fall was later linked to dark fragments scattered across the frozen lake.
What have scientists found inside Tagish Lake samples?
Studies have identified organic matter, presolar grains, carbonates, and water-altered minerals in the meteorite. Its unusually clean recovery makes it valuable for investigating asteroid chemistry and the early solar system.
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