Scientists claim discovery of Russian meteor fragments

Moscow, Feb 18 (AFP) Scientists today said they had discovered fragments of the meteor that spectacularly plunged over Russia's Ural Mountains creating a shockwave that injured 1,200 people and damaged thousands of homes. The giant piece of space rock streaked over the city of Chelyabinsk in central Russia on Friday with the force of 30 of the nuclear bombs dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima during World War II. It exploded a few dozen miles above Earth but its pieces were widely believed to have scattered over large swathes of the industrial region. Recovery workers scouring a small lake where at least some of the fragments were believed to have fallen were unable to discover anything in their initial search. But members of the Russian Academy of Sciences that conducted chemical tests on some unusual rocks yesterday said the pieces had come from outer space. "We confirm that the particles of a substance found by our expedition near Lake Chebarkul really do have the composition of a meteorite," RIA Novsosti quoted Russian Academy of Sciences member Viktor Grokhovsky as saying yesterday. Grokhovsky's Urals Federal University separately posted a statement on its website today that featured a photograph of a person holding a tiny piece of porous black rock between his index finger and thumb. This meteorite belongs to the class of regular chondrites," the university statement said. Grokhovsky said the rock in question was composed in part of metallic iron as well as chrysolite and sulfite. Its iron content was estimated at 10 per cent. "Most likely, (the find) will be called Meteorite Chebarkul," the Russian university said. The meteor's shockwave blew out the windows of nearly 5,000 buildings and left 40 people -- including three children -- recovering in hospital Sunday with cuts and more serious injuries. About 24,000 emergency workers and volunteers were busy replacing smashed windows over the weekend in time for the resumption of school and work. But the elusive meteorites -- meteor fragments that have hit Earth -- have generated interest as well. Russian space debris hunters have posted ads on websites offering as much as 300,000 rubles (USD 10,000) for an authentic piece of the latest space rock to hit the planet. Chelyabinsk authorities responded by cordoning off the area around the lake and not allowing any media or independent researchers hunting for meteorites near the hole that developed in its thick sheet of ice. Grokhovsky said the tiny rock's find came in the snow not far away from the lake. He also expressed confidence that a much larger meteorite was buried in its waters. The lake "is still cordoned off, but it is quite clear that a meteorite is buried there," the scientist said. (AFP) ZH 02181133 NNNN