Field expedition — Mbeya, Tanzania

The Mbozi Meteorite.

An iron visitor that reached Earth roughly 80,000 years ago and sat unrecorded until 1930. OLSPACE went to see it up close — these are the field notes and photos from that trip.

12t

Estimated mass

2nd

Heaviest meteorite known in Africa

8th

Heaviest known in the world

~90%

Metal content

How it got here

The Mbozi Meteorite fell an estimated 80,000 years ago, arriving at speeds above 40,000 km/h — fast enough to leave the scarring across its surface that's still visible today. It sat where it landed, largely unremarked, until it was formally recorded in 1930.

What it's made of

Close to 90% of the meteorite's mass is metal, which is part of why it's stayed intact rather than eroding away like most rock does. At roughly 12 tons, it's the second heaviest meteorite recorded anywhere in Africa, and the eighth heaviest known on Earth.

Field photos

From the trip to Mbeya. Click any photo to see it full size.