CAMPO DEL CIELO SILICATED METEORITE - COMPLETE SLICE OF AN ENIGMATIC METEORITE . ...

Description

CAMPO DEL CIELO SILICATED METEORITE - COMPLETE SLICE OF AN ENIGMATIC METEORITE
Iron, coarse octahedrite
Gran Chaco, Argentina
Similar to the previous three lots, this complete slice is part of an unusual, highly-silicated Campo del Cielo meteorite. While most Campos contain occasional silicate inclusions, this specimen contains an abundance of such inclusions and was, as a result, initially believed to be a completely different meteorite that was coincidentally found in the Campo strewn field. This is a Campo, however, as its chemical signature matches too closely to be anything otherwise. The large angular silicate inclusions suspended in the bright nickel-iron matrix seen here are chondritic in nature; in effect, it is material that is akin to a stone meteorite (see lot 49238). Threads of nickel-iron penetrated these silicates as a result of a tremendous collision in outer space. The external rim is somewhat irregular as a result of the different melting points of the different materials of which the meteorite is comprised. Less than 2% of all Campos are so highly silicated. Visually compelling, this is a choice slice of a preternatural meteorite from Argentina's Valley of the Sky. 174 x 141 x 3mm (6.75 x 5.5 x 0.1 inches) and 265.9 grams (0.6 pounds).

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