Argentina: A family hides up to 2.5 tons of meteorites

On November 25, Argentine police found a family in the state of Santiago del Estero, 1,200km north of Buenos Aires, storing 2.5 tons of meteorites.

A family in Argentina hides 2.5 tons of meteorites

Authorities say the number of meteorites hidden in 80 sacks is suspected to be sold to Europe. These meteorites are worth millions of dollars on the black market.

Photos: news.com.au

Trade in meteorites in Argentina is prohibited. This South American country owns a meteorite section called El Chaco , weighing 37.4 tons, the second largest in the world after the Hoba meteorite, weighing 60 tons in Namibia.

In recent years, the world has a meteorite business . Business people can bid up to 20,000 euros / gram. Because of personal interests, many collectors are willing to spend huge amounts of money to get 'heavenly stones. ' Scientific agencies also need meteorites for research purposes. increased entanglement of theft.

For the scientific world, meteorites are extremely valuable. Some types contain particulate matter that does not change properties all the time since the solar system was formed. Through studying these particles, scientists can find out more about the formation of Earth and other planets.