igneous

Iron Meteorite (Campo del Cielo)

Iron Meteorite, Group IAB (FeNi Alloy: Kamacite and Taenite)

Hardness: 4.5; Color: Dark brown to black (fusion crust) or metallic silver (when cut); Luster: Metallic; Crystal structure: Octahedral; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 7.5-8.0.

Hardness: 4
Luster: Metallic

Identified March 15, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 4.5; Color: Dark brown to black (fusion crust) or metallic silver (when cut); Luster: Metallic; Crystal structure: Octahedral; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 7.5-8.0.

Formation & geological history

Formed roughly 4.5 billion years ago in the cores of differentiated asteroids. The Campo del Cielo specimens fell to Earth approximately 4,000 to 5,000 years ago in Argentina.

Uses & applications

Primarily used for scientific research, private collecting, and high-end jewelry (often sliced and etched to reveal Widmanstätten patterns).

Geological facts

This specimen is a fragment of an asteroid's core. The craters from this specific fall cover an area of 3 by 18.5 kilometers, making it one of the largest meteorite fields on Earth.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its extreme weight (density), strong magnetic attraction, and the presence of 'regmaglypts' (thumb-print-like indentations caused by atmospheric ablation). Found in Chaco province, Argentina.

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