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Esquel (meteorite)
Encyclopedia
Esquel is a pallasite
meteorite
found near Esquel
, a patagonia
n town in the northwest part of the province
of Chubut
(Argentina
). Pallasite
s are a type of stony–iron meteorite that when cut and polished show beautiful yellowish olivine
(peridot) crystals.
in an unknown location near Esquel
while digging a hole for a water tank. The meteorite was purchased from the finders and brought to the United States
in 1992 by meteorite expert Robert Haag
. The Esquel meteorite is world wide known among collectors and meteoritical scientific community.
However O. A. Turone claimed a main mass weight of 755kg.
Robert Haag, the buyer of the main mass, reported a weight of 680 kg.
Almost all of the Esquel ever found on the market is cut from his piece.
It is one of the most beautiful meteorite
s ever found so it is also one of the most desirable pallasite
s among meteorite collectors.
Pallasite
A pallasite is a type of stony–iron meteorite.-Structure and composition:It consists of cm-sized olivine crystals of peridot quality in an iron-nickel matrix. Coarser metal areas develop Widmanstätten patterns upon etching...
meteorite
Meteorite
A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives impact with the Earth's surface. Meteorites can be big or small. Most meteorites derive from small astronomical objects called meteoroids, but they are also sometimes produced by impacts of asteroids...
found near Esquel
Esquel
According to the , the Esquel district had about 28,000 inhabitants, with one of the highest rates of growth in the province, mainly as result of the immigration of people from Buenos Aires, but also from other provinces. It has wide cement streets with sidewalks, and is clean and well maintained...
, a patagonia
Patagonia
Patagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile, integrating the southernmost section of the Andes mountains to the southwest towards the Pacific ocean and from the east of the cordillera to the valleys it follows south through Colorado River towards Carmen de Patagones in the Atlantic Ocean...
n town in the northwest part of the province
Provinces of Argentina
Argentina is subdivided into twenty-three provinces and one autonomous city...
of Chubut
Chubut Province
Chubut a province in the southern part of Argentina situated between the 42nd parallel south and the 46th parallel south , the Andes range separating Argentina from Chile, and the Atlantic ocean...
(Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
). Pallasite
Pallasite
A pallasite is a type of stony–iron meteorite.-Structure and composition:It consists of cm-sized olivine crystals of peridot quality in an iron-nickel matrix. Coarser metal areas develop Widmanstätten patterns upon etching...
s are a type of stony–iron meteorite that when cut and polished show beautiful yellowish olivine
Olivine
The mineral olivine is a magnesium iron silicate with the formula 2SiO4. It is a common mineral in the Earth's subsurface but weathers quickly on the surface....
(peridot) crystals.
History
In 1951 a farmer uncovered a meteoriteMeteorite
A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives impact with the Earth's surface. Meteorites can be big or small. Most meteorites derive from small astronomical objects called meteoroids, but they are also sometimes produced by impacts of asteroids...
in an unknown location near Esquel
Esquel
According to the , the Esquel district had about 28,000 inhabitants, with one of the highest rates of growth in the province, mainly as result of the immigration of people from Buenos Aires, but also from other provinces. It has wide cement streets with sidewalks, and is clean and well maintained...
while digging a hole for a water tank. The meteorite was purchased from the finders and brought to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1992 by meteorite expert Robert Haag
Robert A. Haag
Robert A. Haag is an American famous for collecting meteorites.Haag today remains securely at the top of his field. Some of the meteorites acquired from Haag are currently on display in the Smithsonian....
. The Esquel meteorite is world wide known among collectors and meteoritical scientific community.
Specimens
The Meteoritical Bulletin no. 29 (1964) reports a main mass of "about 1500 kg".However O. A. Turone claimed a main mass weight of 755kg.
Robert Haag, the buyer of the main mass, reported a weight of 680 kg.
Almost all of the Esquel ever found on the market is cut from his piece.
It is one of the most beautiful meteorite
Meteorite
A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives impact with the Earth's surface. Meteorites can be big or small. Most meteorites derive from small astronomical objects called meteoroids, but they are also sometimes produced by impacts of asteroids...
s ever found so it is also one of the most desirable pallasite
Pallasite
A pallasite is a type of stony–iron meteorite.-Structure and composition:It consists of cm-sized olivine crystals of peridot quality in an iron-nickel matrix. Coarser metal areas develop Widmanstätten patterns upon etching...
s among meteorite collectors.
External links
- American Museum of Natural History: Jewels from space
- Image of the main mass left Robert Haag website