Tagish Lake (meteorite)

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The Tagish Lake meteorite fell on January 18, 2000, in the Tagish Lake area of northwestern British Columbia, Canada. A large meteoroid exploded high in the atmosphere, releasing about 1.7 kilotons of energy, and a fireball was seen across southern Yukon and northern British Columbia. As the debris landed on the frozen lake, more than 500 fragments were recovered from the ice.

Most of the rock burned up or broke apart, leaving only about 1.3 tonnes of material as scattered fragments, roughly 97% of the original mass. About 10 kilograms (around 22 pounds) of fragments were recovered, making Tagish Lake one of the most productive meteorite finds from a single fall. The pieces were mostly collected from the lake’s surface or meltwater holes after the ice began to melt.

Tagish Lake is classified as a carbonaceous chondrite, type C2 ungrouped. The fragments are dark gray to almost black with light inclusions and a gray fusion crust. The largest pieces can weigh up to about 2.3 kilograms. The meteorite fell as two slightly different rock types, with differing amounts of carbonate minerals. It is rich in organic material and contains nanodiamonds—the latter are more abundant here than in many other meteorites. The meteorite also carries water-bearing minerals.

Analyses show Tagish Lake preserves primitive material from the early Solar System, including amino acids and other organics. In 2020, NASA noted the presence of certain complex organics in Tagish Lake as well as in other meteorites. A 2022 study detected nitrogen-containing compounds such as purines and nucleobases in Tagish Lake, suggesting rich chemistry that could relate to the origins of life.

Scientists estimate Tagish Lake is about 4.55 billion years old and likely originated from the outer asteroid belt, possibly linked to a primitive, carbon-rich asteroid. The event left a bright trail in the sky and a lasting record for researchers studying the building blocks of the Solar System.