Campo del Cielo Meteorite
Classification: Siderite, coarse octahedrite of the IAB group
Discovery: 1898 (15T Iron Meson)
Location : Provinces of Chaco and Santiago del Estero, Gran Chaco Gualamba (Argentina)
Total mass (TKW): +100 tons
Main masses (more than 1 ton): The Toba, the Mataco, the Iron Inn, the Taco, the Lost, the Vipers, the Chaco, Tañigó II, the Surprise, the Wichí.
Weight: 113 g / 3,98 oz
Measurements: 53 x 44 x 19 mm / 2,08 x 1,73 x 0,75 in
Description: This meteorite is distinguished by an exceptional feature: a natural hole passing through its structure—a rare characteristic highly prized in the world of specialized collecting. The formation of such cavities is linked to the intense heating and ablation processes meteorites undergo while passing through Earth's atmosphere. In iron meteorites, inclusions of minerals less resistant to heat—such as troilite (iron sulfide)—can melt or break away from the metallic matrix, leaving behind natural cavities once the material is expelled. This phenomenon can be further influenced by the erosion and weathering the meteorite experiences after reaching Earth's surface.
The meteorite is in its raw state, with no treatment other than an application of oil to prevent oxidation. To ensure proper preservation, it should be kept away from moisture. A detailed information card and a display case are included.
History: Campo del Cielo is the name given to a spectacular metallic meteor shower that fell between 2200 and 2700 BC over the Gran Chaco Gualamba region in northern Argentina, on the border between the present-day provinces of Chaco and Santiago del Estero. This cosmic event was triggered by the entry into the atmosphere of a large asteroid composed primarily of iron and nickel, which fragmented in the air before impacting the ground, forming multiple craters. In total, at least 26 impact craters have been identified, some up to 115 meters in diameter. To date, more than 100 tons of metallic material have been recovered, making it one of the largest collections of meteorites found worldwide. Among the best-known fragments are El Chaco, La Sorpresa, and Gancedo, the latter weighing almost 31 tons and considered the second heaviest meteorite on the planet. This deposit was known to Native Americans long before the arrival of colonizers and was first documented by the Spanish conquistadors in 1576, making it one of the oldest meteoritic events recorded in writing in the Americas. Its metallic composition and internal structure reveal an extremely slow cooling process in deep space. This meteorite contains the characteristic Widmanstätten pattern, a natural interlacing of iron and nickel crystals that can only form when cooling less than one degree per million years. Impossible to reproduce artificially, this pattern is indisputable proof of its extraterrestrial origin.
Curiosities: Until a few years ago, the largest and heaviest fragment from this fall was known as El Chaco, with an estimated mass of approximately 28,840 kg. However, in September 2016, a new, even larger mass was discovered: the Gancedo meteorite. With an initial reported mass of 30,800 kg, it now surpassed El Chaco as the largest fragment recovered in this area.
Link to The Meteoritical Society: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/metbull.php?code=64400
This piece will travel insured in a safety package to arrive in perfect condition.