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Hoba

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Hoba is an iron meteorite found on a farm near Grootfontein, Namibia, in 1920. With an estimated mass of about 60 tonnes, it is the largest known intact meteorite and the largest naturally occurring mass of iron found near Earth's surface. Its great weight has prevented relocation, so it remains at the discovery site as a protected national monument accessible to visitors.

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Why has the Hoba meteorite never been moved?

Hoba weighs roughly 60 tonnes, making excavation and transport exceptionally difficult. Namibia instead preserves it at its original find site near Grootfontein, where visitors can see the exposed meteorite in place.

How was the Hoba meteorite discovered?

A farmer reportedly encountered Hoba while ploughing his land in 1920 after the plough struck the buried mass. The object was later identified as an iron-nickel meteorite.

Why did Hoba not create a large impact crater?

Researchers think its broad, flat shape and atmospheric deceleration may have reduced its impact speed. No obvious crater surrounds the roughly 60-tonne meteorite today.

What type of meteorite is Hoba made from?

Hoba is an iron-nickel ataxite, a class distinguished by its high nickel content and lack of the familiar Widmanstatten pattern. It remains the largest known intact meteorite on Earth.

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