Meteorite Bendegó – Brazil
Type: iron meteorite, IC
Locality: Brazil
Weight: 2,7g
Dimensions: 16 x 10 x 10 mm
Year found: 1784
Total known weight: 5 360 kg
Surface treatment: none – raw
Packaging: Transparent plastic box (8,4 x 5,8 x 2,4 cm)
| Category: | Bendegó |
|---|---|
| By name: | Bendegó |
| ? Type: | Iron |
| ? Surface treatment: | Natural (raw) |
| Packaging: | In box |
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Bendegó Meteorite – Brazil's Iron Giant
The Bendegó meteorite, discovered in 1784 in the Brazilian state of Bahia, is the largest iron meteorite found on Brazilian soil. In 1888, it was transported to the National Museum in Rio de Janeiro, where it became one of the main exhibits. Weighing approximately 5.36 tons and measuring over 2 meters in length, it ranks among the largest iron meteorites in the world. The meteorite displays Widmanstätten patterns visible after polishing, and its composition includes iron, nickel, and small amounts of elements such as phosphorus and sulfur.
Bendegó survived the devastating fire that destroyed the National Museum in Rio de Janeiro in 2018. Due to its composition that resists high temperatures, this iron meteorite emerged from the catastrophe almost unscathed. The fire consumed a vast portion of the museum's collections, including highly valuable historical and scientific items. However, Bendegó remained virtually untouched thanks to its durability.
Based on a 10-centimeter layer of oxidation beneath the meteorite and the missing portion of its underside, it is estimated to have remained at the site for thousands of years.