Meteorite Hoba – Namibia
Type: Iron meteorite, IVB
Locality: Namibia
Weight: 0,2g
Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 2 mm
Year found: 1920
Total known weight: 60 tonnes
Surface treatment: none – raw
Packaging: Transparent plastic box (5,8 x 3,8 x 1,6 cm)
| Category: | Hoba |
|---|---|
| By name: | Hoba |
| ? Type: | Iron |
| ? Surface treatment: | Natural (raw) |
| Packaging: | In box |
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Hoba Meteorite – the largest iron meteorite in the world
The Hoba meteorite is the largest known iron meteorite in the world and also the largest naturally occurring piece of iron on Earth. It was discovered by chance while ploughing a field in 1920 on the Hoba West farm near Grootfontein in Namibia, where it still lies at its original impact site. The exact date of the Hoba meteorite's impact is unknown, but it is estimated to have fallen to Earth approximately 80,000 years ago. Its mass is estimated at around 60 tonnes, making it a unique specimen among meteorites.
Classification and Composition
Hoba is classified as an iron meteorite of the ataxite type, specifically group IVB. It contains approximately 84.4% iron and 16.4% nickel, which gives it exceptional resistance to corrosion. This meteorite has a flat shape, leading some scientists to speculate that it did not tumble while entering the atmosphere and fell like a flat disc, which could have reduced its speed and prevented the formation of a crater.
Touristic Significance
Due to its size and accessibility, the Hoba meteorite is a popular tourist attraction and was declared a national monument of Namibia in 1955.