How to look for meteorites. Encyclopedia of radio electronics and electrical engineering

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The fall of a meteorite is a striking, very short, incomprehensible and always unexpected phenomenon, causing horror and worship in an unenlightened observer. Therefore, descriptions of meteorite falls are available in many chronicles. The oldest of them is given in a Chinese manuscript and dates back to 654 BC. They are registered by Greek, Roman and medieval historians. Of course, the stones that fell from the sky were revered as saints and served as an object of religious worship. However, meteoric iron, which was sometimes found by people in ancient times, was used to make various tools, and it can be assumed that the first iron that mankind met was of cosmic origin.

In Russian chronicles, the oldest mention of the fall of a meteorite dates back to 1091 (Laurentian Chronicle). Among the most significant are the falls in Veliky Ustyug (1290), Veliky Novgorod (1212 and 1421), near the village of Novye Yergi (1662). In the annals, the fall of a meteorite was considered a bad omen. Repeated attempts were made to search for fallen stones in the places where they fell, but they were all unsuccessful. So far, not a single meteorite has been found on the territory of Russia, the fall of which is recorded in chronicle sources.

On the other hand, a lot of other meteorites have been collected over the past 350 years, and most of them are in the meteorite collection of the Russian Academy of Sciences, one of the oldest and richest collections of meteorites in the world. The collection contains about 180 domestic and over 800 foreign meteorites (more than 16 thousand samples) of almost all types from 45 countries of the world.

Part of this collection is on display at the Mineralogical Museum. A.E. Fersman of the Russian Academy of Sciences, where a map of the country hangs on the wall, on which the places of finds of meteorites are marked. An interesting detail - beyond the Urals, almost all the finds are concentrated along the Trans-Siberian Railway. This does not mean that meteorites fell near the highway; they are just found where people live. And they fall more or less evenly across the planet. In some places, such as certain areas in Antarctica, they can be concentrated for many thousands of years and are clearly visible against the background of ice and snow. Thanks to this, Japanese and American scientists have collected thousands of meteorite samples there.

Rice. 42. Sikhote-Alin meteorite in the Mineralogical Museum. A. E. Fersman. The largest specimen found - 1745 kg

They are also noticeable in sandy deserts. So, collectors, moving by car through the deserts of Oman, find hundreds of meteorites, including rare samples from the Moon and Mars. Search engines sometimes find heavy rusty stones, but not everyone realizes that this could be a meteorite.

In the hot summer of 2000, Oleg Nikolaevich Guskov, returning home after picking mushrooms in the vicinity of the village of Dronino, Kasimovsky district, Ryazan region, noticed a rusty piece of metal sticking out of the ground. It was not possible to pull it out with a knife. Oleg thought that it could be a meteorite, went home for a shovel and a wheelbarrow and dragged it home. For two years, the piece of iron lay in the garden until his hands reached him. Oleg Nikolaevich sawed off a piece and took it to the meteoritics laboratory of the Geochemical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences to check his assumption. The examination carried out showed that dronin iron, indeed, is of meteorite origin. The undertaken expedition with the help of a metal detector discovered more than 250 meteorite fragments with a total weight of about 550 kg. This is the third iron rain discovered in Russia over the past 250 years.

Rice. 43. O.N. Guskov with the Dronino meteorite he found

The collected meteorite fragments are highly oxidized, indicating a significant age for the fall. The city of Kasimov (originally Meshchersky Gorodok, where Prince Alexander Nevsky died) was founded in 1152 by Yuri Dolgoruky and is located just 20 km from Dronin. The fall of such a meteorite (when entering the atmosphere, it had a mass of at least 1,5 tons and an energy of about 100 tons of TNT) is an impressive phenomenon and would certainly have been noticed by the local population not only in Kasimov, but also in Ryazan, Murom and even Vladimir, and would be reflected in Russian chronicles or later chronicles. However, no written information about this event has yet been found. Thus, it can be assumed that, most likely, this fall happened before the XII century. in an almost deserted area.

Meteorites fall at any time of the day or year. Small particles the size of a grain of sand do not reach the ground, burning up in the atmosphere. Larger ones, sometimes reaching several tons, are a fireball rapidly moving in the sky, called a fireball. A fiery tail stretches behind the fireball. Often, at the end of the movement, the car breaks up into pieces in the air and scatters a cascade of sparks in the form of a fiery rain - a stunning sight, especially at night. Very bright fireballs are visible during the day even in full sunlight.

The author was lucky to observe the arrival of such a bright fireball in the Urals in the summer of 1949. A fireball the size of the Moon silently flew almost overhead from the northeast to the southwest and disappeared over the horizon. Everything lasted 5-7 seconds. There was a wide dark trail in the cloudless sky. I don't remember hearing the sound of an explosion.

During the movement in the atmosphere at cosmic speed, the surface of the meteoric body heats up to several thousand degrees. Small particles burn before reaching the ground. Large bodies, more than 100 g, experience a sharp deceleration in the lower dense layers of the atmosphere at a height of 10-20 km. This section of the trajectory is called the delay region. Here the meteorite cools down, the glow stops, and it falls to the ground under the influence of gravity. Almost vertical. The fallen meteorite receives the name of the nearest settlement or other geographical feature. Often, large meteorites, due to air pressure at a height of 10-15 km, break up into hundreds and thousands of fragments and fall to the ground in the form of a fiery rain.

Meteor showers scatter over the ground surface in an area that has an approximately elliptical shape (scattering ellipse).

They fall to the ground, being warm or cold, but not hot, as many people think.

In rare cases, when a meteoroid has a large mass, it does not have time to slow down by air and hits the ground with space velocity, forming a meteorite crater.

About 140 impact craters up to 200 m in diameter are known on Earth, formed by falling cosmic bodies. In principle, there should be much more of them, like on the moon. However, unlike the Moon, on Earth, geological processes are more intense and erase the traces of cosmic bombardment on our planet. When a space body collides with the Earth, the giant kinetic energy of the impactor (space body) is spent on the formation of a crater cavity, as well as on crushing, melting and evaporation of the target substance. These processes lead to the formation of unusual rocks (the so-called impactites, which show characteristic signs of high pressures and temperatures affecting the target substance.

Rice. 44. Crushing of a large meteorite in the atmosphere

Small, 350 m in diameter, Lake Smerdyachye, located in the Shatursky district, about 140 km east of Moscow, differs markedly from the numerous round lakes of the Moscow region in its unusual depth (40 m) and a well-defined rampart surrounding this lake. Based on these signs and referring to the data of N.A. Filin from the city of Roshal, Estonian scientists Yu.V. Kestlane and K.Kh. Mella in 1985 expressed the idea that Lake Smerdyache is a meteorite crater.

Recently, employees of the Laboratory of Meteoritics of the Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry named after V.I. V.I.Vernadsky RAS conducted a study of the mysterious lake and confirmed that the lake, indeed, is a crater formed during a meteorite impact. According to preliminary data, the crater was formed about 10 thousand years ago. Thus, Lake Smerdyache may be the closest meteorite crater to Moscow, which is a unique natural monument.

All meteorites are divided into three main classes: iron, iron-stony and stone. Each class is subdivided into types. The most rare are stony iron meteorites, which are divided into two groups: mesosiderites and pallasites. Stony meteorites are divided into two subclasses: chondrites and achondrites. According to their structure, iron meteorites are divided into three groups: hexahedrites, octahedrites, and ataxites. Of these, hexahedrites are the rarest.

The vast majority of meteorites come to Earth from the asteroid belt. At the same time, meteorites from the Moon and Mars were identified among the meteorites. These meteorites are the most expensive on the market (from 2000 to 10 dollars per gram).

According to the nature of detection, all meteorites are divided into falls and finds. Falls are meteorites observed by eyewitnesses and collected immediately after the observed deceleration of the meteorite body in the earth's atmosphere. In the case of meteor showers, new specimens are usually found long after the fall.

Stony meteorites make up the majority (92,8%) of falls, with chondrites being the majority (85,7%). Achondrites, iron and stony-iron meteorites account for 7,1%, 5,7% and 1,5%, respectively.

Finds are those meteorites, the fall of which was not observed. Their belonging to meteorites is established on the basis of their material composition.

The percentage of stony meteorites among finds is noticeably lower than among falls, since they are often difficult to distinguish from stones of terrestrial origin. Iron meteorites are easier to identify and can be found with a metal detector not only on the surface, but also at considerable depths.

Outside, all meteorites have the so-called melting crust - this is a thin hardened submelted layer 0,1-1,0 mm thick. A fresh fracture of stony meteorites usually has a gray color, and upon magnification it can be seen that the structure of the meteorite contains small (less than 1 mm in diameter) balls throughout the fine-grained mass, called chondrules, which have a mainly silicate composition. Therefore, such meteorites are called chondrites. In terrestrial rocks, chondrules are not found at all. Therefore, the presence of chondrules is a reliable indication that the stone is a meteorite.

When working with a metal detector, sometimes there are so-called hot stones, which give the same clear signal as a metal object, but unlike the latter, the signal disappears when the search coil is already slightly removed from the stone. No one has studied these stones in detail. In some cases, these are rocks containing inclusions of magnetite (iron ore), chalcopyrite (copper ore), or other electrically conductive or magnetic minerals. Sometimes such stones can be attracted by a strong magnet. Pay attention to their shape, surface, chip, and perhaps a meteorite will be among them. The discovery of a new meteorite is a matter of chance and great luck. Clades, for example, are much more common. However, in Russia there are several places where large meteor showers fell at one time and it is quite possible to find samples of meteorites there.

Sikhote-Alin meteorite. Octahedrite. This very abundant iron meteor shower fell on February 12, 1947 in the Primorsky Territory. More than 100 tons of material fell out, from which about 27 tons were collected and entered the collection of the Academy of Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Chinge meteorite. Ataxite. Found in 1912 while panning for gold in the bed of the Chinge brook in the Uryankhai region in Tuva. More than 250 kg of material was collected. Meteorite fragments can still be found. A large amount of meteoric iron was used by miners for forging nails, staples and other small miners' items. So the search for such products is also of interest.

Dronino meteorite. Found in 2001 near the village of Dronino in the Kasimovsky district of the Ryazan region. About 550 kg were collected by the specialists of the meteoritics laboratory of the Geochemical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences and about the same number by search engine enthusiasts. The meteorite is highly oxidized and continues to rapidly corrode in air.

Bragn's meteorite. Pallasite. Found in 1807 in the Gomel region. Scientists surmise on a geographical basis that the events described in 1091 in the Laurentian Chronicle are connected with the fall of the large Bragin pallasite. Collected more than 1000 kg. Meteorite samples are still being found, despite the fact that the impact area is located in a zone closed due to the Chernobyl accident.

Meteorite Tsarev. Chondrite. December 6, 1922 "Giant Shooting Star" in the Astrakhan and Tsaritsyn provinces caused panic among the local population. However, scientists were unable to find traces of the meteorite. Only in 1968, during the plowing of the fields of the Leninsky state farm in the Volgograd region, a lot of unusual stones caused the plows to break down. Another 11 years passed before the Committee on Meteorites from the electric welder B.G. Nikiforov received a parcel with samples of these stones Meteor shower Tsarev - the largest fall of a stone meteorite in the USSR. Collected more than 1200 kg. But, for sure, you can find many more examples. The search, however, is complicated by the strong mineralization of the soil in the area.

Pervomaisky village. Chondrite. It fell on December 26, 1933 in the Vladimir region beyond Yuryev-Polsky, scattering a fireworks cascade of sparks and breaking out for tens of kilometers with thunderous peals and a long-lasting rumble. In April - May, dozens of meteorites with a total weight of 49 kg were collected in the fields. You can try to look for additional instances.

The search for iron meteorites and pallasites is not particularly difficult in technical terms, since even inexpensive instruments respond to them quite clearly. However, large specimens are located at a depth of 1-1,5 m and for their detection it is required to use sensitive instruments - Spectrum XLT, MKhT, Tejon, "Kornet" and others. When searching for stony meteorites, in which the iron content is insignificant, it is necessary to use only sensitive instruments, it is also desirable to have a strong magnet with you, which attracts almost all stony meteorites.

What to do if you find a rock that you suspect is a meteorite? The Laboratory of Meteoritics of GEOKHI RAS recommends the following in this case.

"You can break off a small piece of the sample (10-15 g) and send a simple parcel to the address of the laboratory. Attach a letter to the parcel, consisting of the following items:

• your last name, first name, patronymic and the address where we can contact you,
• a description of the circumstances of the find (for example, “I saw a bright fireball flying, I found an unusual stone at the supposed place of impact” or “when plowing the field, I found heavy magnetic rock, which made me suspect that it was a meteorite”;
• date of discovery;
• indication of the place of discovery and the nearest regional center;
• sample weight;
• its properties (surface and chip color, rock structure, magnetism, presence of metallic inclusions, etc.);
• Sample photo required.

Upon receipt of your parcel, we undertake to perform a free qualified analysis of the sent sample and inform you of its results as soon as possible, even if it does not turn out to be a meteorite.

If we really are dealing with a meteorite, then we will continue to be guided by the rules established by the International Meteorite Nomenclature Committee and mutual agreements

According to the rules of the Nomenclature Committee, for registration in the International Catalog of Meteorites, it is necessary that 20% of the sample be in a scientific institution. In our case, the Laboratory of Meteoritics of the Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry. VI Vernadsky RAS is the custodian of the Meteorite Collection of the Russian Academy of Sciences and, thus, meets the specified requirement. You can consider these 20% as a payment for painstaking analyzes necessary for classifying a meteorite and registering it in the International Meteorite Catalog.

The remaining 80% you have the right to dispose of at your discretion. On our part, of course, we would like to obtain the maximum mass of the sample, since any meteorite is individual and carries a lot of interesting information about the processes that took place with our solar system. It is sad if even a small fraction of it is lost to science. In Soviet times, it was the norm to pay a monetary reward to a person who found a meteorite. In our time of transition, special funds are not allocated for this, but we will do our best to reward a person's desire to help science. I would also like to note that the fabulous prices for meteorites reported in the press on the foreign market are not entirely true. Yes, there are a very small number of very rare meteorites highly valued by private collectors. However, the bulk of meteorites are not of great value on the market, and it is unlikely that the possession of a meteorite will make a person prosperous. Yes, and it is very difficult to sell a meteorite in our country, this can only be done abroad. Therefore, we offer you an honest dialogue, as a result of which we will come to the most satisfying conditions for all of us.

Success.

Employees of the laboratory of meteoritics of GEOKHI RAS".
Address of the laboratory of meteoritics: Moscow, 119991, Kosygin str., 19; tel. (7-495) -939 fax: (7-495) 938-20-54;
e-mail: meteorites@geokhi.ru".

During the Soviet era, prizes for finds of meteorites were paid regularly on the basis of various regulatory documents, for example, Decree No. 13095 of the Council of People's Commissars of May 12.05.41, 7501; and others. The size of the bonus, of course, varied. For example, in 4.04.52, the Academy promised to pay 273 gold rubles for finding the site of the observed fall of the Tsarev meteorite. This place was found only in 26.07.65, and the premium paid was 1922 rubles.

During the years of perestroika, the payment of meteorite bonuses ceased. There was no money and there were no new finds of meteorites. In 2003, the Academy of Sciences announced the resumption of the practice of bonuses. This year, two prizes were paid for the discovery of the Dronino meteor shower in the amount of 30 and 10 thousand rubles.

The prize for the discovery of a new meteorite will be paid in case of transferring the bulk of the found meteorite to the Meteorite Collection of the Russian Academy of Sciences or for assistance in collecting specimens of a new meteor shower. The Meteoritics Laboratory of the Geochemical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences records the fact that the meteorite was transferred to the Meteoritic Collection of the Russian Academy of Sciences or assisted in their search and applies for the payment of a premium. The amount of the award will be determined by the type of meteorite found.

Materials of the site meteorites.ru were used

Author: Bulgak L.V.

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