Lot 92
A large and impressive Meteorite
Auction: 27 September 2006 at 12:00 BST
Description
from Campo del Cielo, Gran Chaco Gualamba, Argentina, weighing over 11kg
Dimensions
23cm across
Footnote
Four centuries ago during Spain's conquest of South America, a Spanish Governor learned from the native people of Argentina about a stone that they believed had fallen from heaven. He sent for Captain de Miraval to form an expedition who returned with a huge piece of iron meteorite that became known as "Meson de Fierro". Campo del Cielo, in today's Argentina , means field of the sky or heaven, which seems appropriate. There are a series of craters found at the main site. Recovered meteorites are found in and around a series of small craters; the largest crater being about 260 by 217 feet in diameter. All together, searchers have found at least 12 craters.