A huge meteorite was excavated from Argentina’s famous Campo del Cielo, a well-known meteorite crash site. Estimates suggest the cosmic debris weighs more than 30 tonnes which ought to make it the second largest intact meteorite found so far.
The crater field of Campo del Ceilo, 1085km north of Buenos Aires, is comprised of at least 26 meteorite craters, created by impacts estimated to be 4,000-5,000 years old. The first record of the Campo dates from 1576 when the Spanish governor learned of some native indians who were dealing iron. When questioned, the indians said the iron fell from heaven and directed the Spanish authorities to the meteorite field. An expedition under the command of one Captain de Miraval reportedly brought back a few pieces of the iron-rich meteorites, among them a huge catch called the Meson de Fierro, which literally means large table of iron.
