Toluca meteorite, Iron meteorite in Jiquipilco Municipality, Mexico
The Toluca meteorite is an iron meteorite that broke into multiple fragments now scattered across scientific institutions and museums around the world. These pieces together weigh about 3 tonnes and show a composition rich in iron with significant nickel content.
This iron meteorite fell to Earth millions of years ago and was first documented in 1776 in the Toluca Valley. The discovery marked an important moment in scientific recognition of meteorites as objects from beyond our planet.
Local inhabitants of the region utilized the meteorite fragments as a valuable source of metal for crafting tools prior to scientific documentation.
The main pieces of this meteorite are housed in different renowned museums, so you cannot see them all in one location. If you are interested in meteorites, check which museum near you displays a fragment.
The interior displays a special pattern formed by the slow cooling process that occurred in space over millions of years. This structure, known as the Widmanstätten pattern, becomes visible when the meteorite is polished.
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