Lot 356
Meteorite - 30 Pound Campo Del Cielo With Hole. This huge 9.5 x 8 x 4 inch 30 pound iron-nickel meteorite is not only esthetically pleasing with a plethora of regmaglypts covering most of its surface but also has a small natural hole in the thinnest part of a huge 2 inch regmaglypt. Regmaglypts looking something like thumbprints form when the meteorite enters the atmosphere at a high velocity creating very high temperatures that selectively melt the pockets of Troilite (iron sulfide) much more readily than the iron-nickel matrix. These regmaglypts are what give iron-nickel meteorites their character. Because of the density of iron-nickel meteorites, holes rarely form and can only occur when a pocket of Troilite burns all the way through during melting.
Known as Campo del Cielo (field of the sky), these meteorites fell from the sky over 4000 years ago in Gran Chaco Gualamba, Argentina and were written about in 1576 by the Spanish governor who learned about them from the local Indians who believed that the iron stones fell from the sky. A large 60 ton meteorite known as Meson de Fiero (large table of iron) was sent back by ship to Spain and melted down. The best specimens of Campos such as this one are known as new Campos as they are found higher up in the mountains and have not been worn down by rusting from rain water. Esthetically sculpted meteorites with a hole are worth two to three times as much as a similar size meteorite without the rare hole and are in great demand from meteorite collectors. This important meteorite comes with a 10 inch high custom iron stand for display.
Add $30 for domestic shipping.
Estimated Value $3,000-UP.
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