description Campo del Cielo Overview
Campo del Cielo is a large iron-meteorite strewn field in northern Argentina, formed when fragments of a meteoroid struck the region thousands of years ago. Indigenous communities knew of its iron masses before Spanish investigators documented them in the sixteenth century. Numerous fragments have since been recovered, including exceptionally massive specimens, and their combined known mass exceeds 100 tonnes.
insights Ranking position
Campo del Cielo ranks #28 of 213 in the Meteorite ranking, behind Peekskill, ahead of Norton County.
help Campo del Cielo FAQ
Is Campo del Cielo one meteorite or a whole field of fragments?
The name refers to a large strewn field of iron meteorite masses and impact craters in northern Argentina. More than 100 tonnes of material have reportedly been recovered across the region.
When did the Campo del Cielo meteorite fall?
Scientific estimates place the impact roughly 4,000 to 5,000 years ago. Indigenous communities knew the iron masses long before Spanish explorers documented the site in 1576.
Why are Campo del Cielo pieces made mostly of metal?
Campo del Cielo is an iron meteorite dominated by iron-nickel alloy rather than silicate rock. Such meteorites are generally interpreted as fragments of the metallic interiors of differentiated asteroids.
What are the largest named Campo del Cielo masses?
Famous examples include El Chaco and Gancedo, each weighing many tonnes. Gancedo was recovered in 2016 and is among the largest individual meteorite masses known.
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