Iron meteorite – Campo del Cielo, Argentina
Type: iron / octahedrite IAB-MG
Locality: Campo del Cielo, Argentina
Weight: 0,7g
Dimensions: 11 x 8 x 3 mm
Year found: 1576
Total known weight: 50 tonnes
Surface treatment: none – raw
Packaging: Transparent plastic box (5,8 x 3,8 x 1,6 cm)
| Category: | Campo del Cielo |
|---|---|
| By name: | Campo del Cielo |
| ? Type: | Iron |
| ? Surface treatment: | Natural (raw) |
| Packaging: | In box |
Free gift
For order over 20 $
Shipping within 2 working days
Campo del Cielo – a famous iron meteorite
Campo del Cielo is one of the most famous iron meteorites, which fell in the Campo del Cielo region of Argentina about 4–5 thousand years ago, leaving approximately 26 craters. This meteorite belongs to the IAB-MG group and is composed mainly of iron and nickel, with traces of cobalt, phosphorus, and germanium. So far, approximately 100 tons of material have been found. The largest specimens weighing 30.8 and 28.8 tons are among the largest and heaviest single meteorite fragments ever to hit Earth.
Origin
The Campo del Cielo meteorite likely originates from the asteroid belt, a region of the solar system located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, where many asteroids and planetesimals are found.
The asteroid belt formed from material that, due to Jupiter’s gravitational influence, could not coalesce into a full-sized planet. Collisions between objects could have caused the breakup of larger bodies, releasing fragments, some of which eventually headed toward Earth. Campo del Cielo is believed to be one such fragment.
History and Discovery
The Campo del Cielo meteorite struck Earth approximately 4,000 to 5,000 years ago, creating a network of craters spread over about 3,000 km². Local indigenous people discovered the iron fragments long before Europeans arrived and used them to craft tools and weapons.
In 1576, Spanish conquistadors learned of these "iron mountains" and launched the first official search. However, proper scientific study and cataloging began only in the 20th century. More than 100 tons have been found, making Campo del Cielo one of the heaviest meteorite discoveries on Earth.
Composition and Structure
Campo del Cielo is composed primarily of iron (approx. 92%) and nickel (around 6.7%), with minor traces of other metals such as cobalt and phosphorus. It also features characteristic crystalline structures called Widmanstätten patterns, visible when the surface is etched with acid. These patterns result from the slow cooling of the iron-nickel alloy in space and are a distinctive feature of iron meteorites.