[meteorite-list] Researchers Find Possible Meteorite Fragments in Russia

[Ron Baalke]

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Researchers_Find_Meteorite_Fragments_In_Altai_999.html

Researchers Find Meteorite Fragments In Altai
RIA Novosti
May 8, 2007

A group of Russian researchers looking for a meteorite that fell in 
January in the Altai Territory in southern Siberia has found an 
extraterrestrial substance which could be meteorite fragments, a 
coordinator said Monday. "We have collected about 50 samples, and 
vitreous threads (traces of comet substance) were discovered in the 
first of them using a microscope," Vadim Chernobrov of Kosmopoisk 
(space search) said.

"We will reach the meteorite site in a few days, but rocks which are 
probably meteorite fragments have already been found," Chernobrov 
said.

He said only laboratory testing could establish the rocks' origin, 
adding that there were many volunteers involved in the operation 
from Moscow, Novosibirsk, Kostroma and local areas. He said all 
finds will be given to a museum.

Earlier, it was reported that January 10, local motorists and 
residents witnessed the impact of a fiery ball, which eventually 
ended in a loud sound resembling an explosion.

"Witnesses called us. This must have been a meteorite," a senior 
scientist from the Barnaul planetarium said.

Natalya Pavlova said that since a fallen meteorite was discovered in 
1840, some 20 meteorites, including 4 in the 21st century, have been 
registered in the area.