Iron, coarse octahedrite – IAB-MG Gran Chaco, Argentina (27°28' S, 60°35' W)

Details

A CAMPO DEL CIELO — PALM-SIZED COMPLETE IRON METEORITE WITH FUSION CRUST
Iron, coarse octahedrite – IAB-MG
Gran Chaco, Argentina (27°28' S, 60°35' W)
Palm-sized and surprisingly dense, this unusual trapezoid shaped meteorite exhibits the finely stippled surface characteristic of superior Campo del Cielo meteorites. Thumbprint-like sockets abound and within most are patches of fusion crust—a sought-after artifact of fractional heating when penetrating Earth’s atmosphere.
2 1/3 x 3½ x 1¾in. (59 x 88 x 47mm.)
826g

Special notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

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Lot Essay

Campo del Cielo (“Valley of the Sky”) meteorites are the result of a cataclysmic collision between two asteroids that were flying at a cosmic velocity in interplanetary space. At least one of the asteroids completely shattered resulting in large fragments. When one such fragment later struck Earth’s upper atmosphere 6,000 years ago, the result was further explosive fragmentation into thousands of meteorites. The larger meteorites struck the ground at such a high velocity that an array of at least 26 impact craters formed, the largest measuring a football field in diameter. This meteorite was once part of the iron core of an asteroid between Jupiter and Mars.

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