Catalogue of Meteorites from South America

Abstract

The first Catalogue of Meteorites from South America is presented here. The updated list includes many new specimens previously never reported. The total number of specimens mentioned is 600, falls or finds. Doubtful specimens and pseudometeorites were deliberately omited. Our Catalogue gives the basic information about each specimen like its procendence and the place where it was discovered (in geographic co-ordinates and illustrative map), the official name of the meteorite, its co-ordinates, its classification type, if it was seen to fall or was accidentally found by a lucky chance, its total mass or weight, the institution who keeps it, and the most important bibliographic references about it. As it is expected the largest number of meteoroids was sightseen in populated and template weater areas. The falling of meteorites is a random event but the finding of old meteorites is focused in certain areas like, for example, in the deserts of Atacama in Chile were meteorites are concentrated with the geological timescales. In the countries of South America meteorites are free trade objects except in Argentina where they are protected by the Ley Nacional N° 26.306. Any meteorite found or fall in Argentina is a cultura treasure of the Nation and its comerece is forbidden.