The Hoba Meteorite is the largest known single meteorite of its kind lying on the surface of the earth. It’s mᴀss is estimated at around 60 metric tonnes and measures 2.95m x 2.84m.
The thickness varies between 75-122cm. As it consists of mainly iron and nickel, it can safely be described as an iron meteorite, although scientifically it is termed an ataxite; a meteorite with a high nickel content.
The Hoba Meteorite’s age has been reasonably accurately estimated from the presence of a rare radioactive nickel isotope, with a half-life of less than 80,000 years. Armed with this information, scientists have been able to determine that the Hoba Meteorite fell to earth less than 80,000 years ago.
The age of the meteorite has been estimated rather loosely to be between 190 million and 410 million years.
