[meteorite-list] Orange snow in Siberia connected to fall in Turkey / Norway observations?

Bjorn Sorheim astrogeo at online.no
Mon Feb 5 14:40:30 EST 2007


List,
Taking into account that the Turkey fall happened in the afternoon of the 31st of January (like the  norwegian observations) and that the recent orange snowfall
in Siberia was about the same time, is it not quite possible that these events are connected?

The russians using elaborate chemical analysis have had some problems explaining
the fallout with the snow on last Wedensday in the Omsk, Tomsk, Tuymen area. 
The same stuff seems also to be reported from northern parts of Kazakstan.
The colours are described as orange, yellow, red and green.
It was partly described as being oily with a rotten smell.

The laboratory analysis have found that the fallout was seemingly sand and clay particles but which contained 4 times more iron than normal, it was also acidic and contained nitrates.

It was first suggested that it was industrial pollusion, but the later version is 
that it is sand/clay blown up from the arid flats ot the once Aral Sea.
Also suggested as coming from arid parts of Pakistan.

The various sources cites somewhat different times at which it first occured -
'in the afternoon, towards the evening', one source saying 13:15 msk time,
another 'in the morning of Wedensday'.

I make no conclusion here, but a rotten (sulphuric smell) is not unknown in
the meteoritic litterature. Nitrates are produced in quantities by meteor
explosions. 
Also, do not forget Tunguska! 

Some sources:
http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=11212796&PageNum=0
http://www.guardian.co.uk/russia/article/0,,2004868,00.html?gusrc=ticker-103704
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6323611.stm
http://englishrussia.com/?p=637
http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=11220826&PageNum=0

Bjørn Sørheim


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