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15.8lbs9"NICKEL-IRON METEORITE-Discovered1576-Argentina
$2,150.00380239272320
...recognized worldwide for our quality specimens,
sensible prices, & outstanding customer service15¾ POUND
NICKEL-IRON
METEORITE
~ FROM THE CAMPO DEL CIELO METEORITE FIELD,
FIRST REPORTED IN ARGENTINA IN 1576 ~
SIZE:
9.0” x 5.0” x 5.0”SHIPPING WEIGHT:
16.5 POUNDSSUPERBLY FORMED NICKEL-IRON METEORITE!
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CONDITION:
EXCELLENT
(click here to learn
what this means)
Naturally sculpted shape formed by the heat of entry
through the earth's atmosphere
Click arrow to see a video of this fine mineral specimenClick on the pictures to see enlarged view
Excellent regmaglypts ("thumbprints")
Click on the pictures
for enlarged view
Extra-large 9" size
Lovely metallic sheen
Dense nickel-iron meteorite
DESCRIPTIONHere's a superbly formed NICKEL-IRON METEORITE - the material that remains from an interstellar visitor passing through the earth's atmosphere and crashing to earth. Meteorites originate in the heads of comets, the asteroid belt, from Mars, and from the Moon. Iron meteorites are composed of nickel-iron metal. Scientists theorize that they are pieces of the central cores of LARGE ASTEROIDS that once melted and then re-formed. During collision, these asteroids were shattered, sending pieces of their cores hurtling into space, where some of them fell to earth.
The first record of the Campo del Cielo meteorite was in 1576. A Spanish governor learned of the iron from the Indians who reportedly believed that it had fallen from heaven. The governor sent an expedition under the command of one Captain de Miraval who brought back a few pieces of a huge iron mass he called Meson de Fierro (large table of iron). The location of the find was the Campo del Cielo (field of the sky or heaven), a fitting name for the location of a meteorite. Since the Indians believed that the irons fell from heaven the name may have come from the meteorites. The area is an open brush-covered plain that has little water and no other rocks--very good country in which to locate meteorites.
The next record of Campo Del Cielo meteorites was about 200 years later in the late 1770s. The Spanish thought some pieces might be silver ore, but once they tried to process it, they found that it was only iron. A Spanish navy lieutenant excavated one specimen which he believed weighed 14 to 18 tons. This may have been the Meson de Fierro. He left he mass in place and it was not seen again--or was it? In the 1800s more smaller irons were found. A pair of flintlock pistols reportedly made of this material were given to President James Monroe. Later analyses showed that the iron was not meteoritic. In the 1900s. systematic exploration revealed many more large masses; however, the Meson de Fierro remained lost.
In 1992, American meteorite dealer Robert Haag was arrested by Argentine authorities while transporting a 37 ton meteorite from the area. Haag had purchased the mass from a local person who claimed ownership. Unfortunately, the authorities disagreed. Haag was released and the huge meteorite remains in Argentina. Whether this is the famous Meson de Fierro remains for speculation. If anyone knows, then send me an e-mail.
The larger Campo del Cielo meteorites are found in and around a series of small craters in the southwestern part of the strewn field. The largest crater is 78 by 65 meters. A smaller one is 56 meters in diameter and 5 meters deep. All together, searchers have found at least 12 craters. The main part of the crater-forming mass was found in each of these craters. This is in contrast to Canyon Diablo and Odessa where the main crater-forming mass is believed to have vaporized or shattered on impact. In this respect, the field is similar to Sikhote-Alin.
Scientists have attempted to date the Campo fall by carbon dating of charred wood found in the craters. Dates of 5800 years (plus or minus 200 years) and 3950 years (plus or minus 90 years) have been obtained. These dates are consistent with an Indian oral tradition that the irons fell from heaven. Many of the Campo meteorites are highly rusted and corroded by terrestrial chlorides, however some have significant areas of relatively fresh fusion crust. This too, is an indicator of a fall in the not-too-distant past.
The Campo del Cielo is described as a polycrystalline coarse octahedrite. At 3 mm the Widmanstatten bands are thicker than those at Canyon Diablo or Odessa, but still thin enough to have the same coarse octahedrite classification. The mass was composed of large austenite crystals from 5 to 50 cm in size. On break-up the fragments were cold worked like those at Sikhote-Alin and Gibeon. It has been hypothesized that the original body was tabular in shape and broke up on entry into the atmosphere.gregates with graphite and silicates.
There's a funny story that goes with this specimen. We purchased it from the Giroldi brothers of Uruguay at the TUCSON GEM & MINERAL SHOW in February. They were selling their material as Uruguayan meteorites, from Lake Baygorria. Recent postings on the International Meteorite Collectors Association (IMCA) site revealed that this was a scam, and that the meteorites were in fact from Campo del Cielo! I guess it goes to show you that there are unscrupulous people around wherever money changes hands... By the way, we'll include the Baygorria label with the specimen, as the Giroldi scam has now become part of the somewhat sordid but true history of the specimen. Luckily, this meteorite has been verified to be an authentic Campo meteorite, and one of very high quality at that.
METAPHYSICSPeople interested in metaphysics and CRYSTAL HEALING tell us that fluorite is a POWERFUL HEALER that grounds excess energy, and is excellent for concentration and meditation, bringing SPIRITUAL PEACE and wholeness. It is known as the "STONE OF THE MIND", aiding comprehension and decision making while discouraging chaos. FLUORITE is believed to DISSOLVE MENTAL BLOCKS, narrow mindedness, and thought constricting patterns. Fluorite brings ORDER from chaos. It is the "STONE OF DISCERNMENT and aptitude" that acts as a protective, PSYCHIC SHIELD and AURIC CLEANSER. It also HELPS RELATIONSHIPS and encourages and sustains the flawless ideal of health, intellect and EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING.
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