Collection
Classification: Campo del Cielo – IAB-MG (IAB Iron)
Observed fall: No
Year found: 1576
City, Country: Campo del Cielo, Argentina
Mass: 50.000 kg
In collection
Weight #1 : 1646 g
Certificate of authenticity: Yes (1)
The Campo del Cielo meteorites are a group of iron meteorites found in the Gran Chaco Gualamba region of Argentina. First recorded by Spanish explorers in 1576 but known to indigenous peoples for centuries, these meteorites are classified as IAB-MG (Main Group) iron meteorites. They consist primarily of iron and nickel, with occasional inclusions of silicate minerals. Notably, the Campo del Cielo meteorite field contains some of the largest meteorite masses ever discovered, with individual pieces weighing up to tons. The study of these meteorites provides valuable insights into the processes of planetary differentiation and the composition of the early solar system.
When examining a IAB-MG meteorite under a light microscope, several distinctive features can be observed:
The most prominent feature in iron meteorites like Campo del Cielo is the Widmanstätten pattern, a distinctive intergrowth of iron-nickel alloys. Under reflected light, especially after chemical etching with dilute nitric acid, these patterns appear as a crisscross or octahedral lattice of bands.
Kamacite (low-nickel iron) bands are broader and have a matte appearance. Taenite (high-nickel iron) lamellae are thinner and more reflective.
Silicate Inclusions: Campo del Cielo meteorites contain silicate inclusions, which are fragments of non-metallic minerals trapped within the metal matrix. Appear as dark or translucent areas within the metallic background.
