[meteorite-list] Real 'Stardust' Found on Earth

[Ron Baalke]

http://english.pravda.ru/science/19/94/377/12683_stardust.html

Real "stardust" found on Earth 
Pravda
May 4, 2004

Japanese scientists discovered particles of stardust right here on 
earth. Apparently, they have been formed long before the actual 
formation of the Solar system. It is contained in two relatively 
small meteorites, found in the deserts of Morocco and Algeria.

Results of experiments have already been published in Tokyo. The 
tests were conducted by means of the latest high-tech microscope 
by a team of researchers from the capital"s Industrial University 
and several other institutes.

Stardust represents mineral particles scattered in space, formed 
primarily from atoms of dying stars. Such cosmic grains served 
as the main "raw material" in the formation of the planet earth 
as well as other planets. While conducting various experiments, 
scientists also plan to shed the light on the origin of the Solar 
system and other galaxies.

What Japanese scientists discovered in the African meteorites 
were 7 grains (ranging from 0,1 to 1 micrometer in size) which, 
supposedly, had separated from two different stars before the 
formation of the Solar system. They estimated to be 4,6 billion 
years old. Judging by the chemical makeup of the particles, they 
belong to silicates-main counterparts of 80% of minerals on the 
planet.      

(Translated by Anna Ossipova)