The Southwest Meteorite Collection was derived from many years of unfettered access to meteorites in the coarse of decades of business. In 2003, we published a catalog of our collection, “The Southwest Meteorite Collection, A Pictorial Catalog“. It has grown significantly since then; as a private reserve we refrained from selling any part of it. Now it consists of thousands of specimens from tiny thin sections slides to the largest being ~1600 lbs.

Our primary collecting goal is to preserve a group of meteorites of every type; these are preserved for research, education and inspiration. We really appreciate seeing the material in context of the whole stone if we are able to get them. We also love large meteorites, and multiple specimens to show variations; keeping in mind some of them will be consumed in research. Additionally specimens are also essential for trading with museums and will continue to add variety to the collection.

The Southwest Meteorite Collection has had a home at the University of Arizona since 2006. The meteorites, tektites and fossils are exhibited in the private conference center at the headquarters for NASA’s OsirisRex Asteroid Return Mission’s. The room is spacious, and the exhibits display clusters of meteorites and are the subject of interest in a 10,000 square foot venue. We are incredibly happy to share our collection there. Although it is not open to the public now, we are able to occasionally arrange a private tour.

For the purpose of tracking and curating the collection we are able to managing it through an online database. We are compiling the research and publish works associated with each specimen; as, well as details of the acquisition. In the near future, we will allow members to access the abundance of Southwest Collection’s descriptions, photos, stories. It is our hope to see this collection continue to grow and provide for inspiration for STEM outreach; for the understanding of our beginnings, the formation of our solar system; to our future in extra terrestrial resources.

Kitty and Marvin Killgore,
The Southwest Meteorite Collection
2020