Peace River (meteorite)

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Peace River
Peace River slice
Type	Chondrite
Class	Ordinary chondrite
Group	L6
Country	Canada
Region	Alberta
Coordinates	56°8′N 117°56′W / 56.133°N 117.933°W / 56.133; -117.933[1]
Observed fall	Yes
Fall date	March 31, 1963
TKW	45.76 kg (1964)
Strewn field	Yes

Peace River is a small L6 chondrite meteorite that detonated over Alberta, Canada on the morning of March 31, 1963.

On March 31, 1963 at 4:35 a.m. MST, a small meteoroid detonated at a height of 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) over the skies of Alberta, Canada and broke in two main fragments.^[2] A bright flash was visible at a distance of over 100 miles and strong booming detonations were heard.

As soon as enough data was obtained and the snow melted, the search for the fragments began. The first fragment was recovered on April 24 near Mahood farm, 39 kilometres (24 mi) southwest of Peace River town, by John Westgate and R. E. Folinsbee.^[1]

The ellipse of scattering spawn for about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) in length.^[3]

It was classified as shocked L6 chondrite.

• Glossary of meteoritics