[meteorite-list] More Chelyabinsk Meteorite Fragments Recovered From Urals Lake

[Ron Baalke]

http://en.ria.ru/russia/20131001/183883376/More-Possible-Meteorite-Fragments-Recovered-From-Urals-Lake.html

More Possible Meteorite Fragments Recovered From Urals Lake
RIA Novosti
October 1, 2013

YEKATERINBURG - Two more rocks believed to be fragments of a meteorite 
that exploded above a Russian city in February have been lifted from the 
bottom of a Ural Mountain lake, local authorities said Tuesday.

Both rocks are estimated to weigh less than a kilogram [2.2 pounds] and 
are being sent to the nearby Chelyabinsk State University for a detailed 
examination, the regional ministry in charge of recovering the fragments 
said in a statement.

Eight possible fragments, ranging from 10 to 30 centimeters in diameter, 
have so far been recovered from the bottom of Lake Chebarkul. But the 
biggest rocks, weighing 5.8 kilograms (12.8 pounds) and 19.6 kilograms 
(43.2 pounds), might not be parts of the meteorite, scientists say. 
Additional examination is under way.

Last week a 3.36-kilogram (7.4-pound) piece of the meteorite went on sale 
on Russian classified ad site Avito.ru for 2.1 million rubles ($65,000).

Scientists believe that a relatively enormous fragment - estimated to 
weigh several hundred kilograms - is buried under a layer of silt on the 
lakebed. Currently, the silt is being pumped out to recover the object, 
and a senior official said the object could be retrieved by October 4.

A high-ranking Chelyabinsk State University official said Tuesday that 
a sonar scan had revealed another huge object that could possibly be another 
chunk of the meteorite. The Chelyabinsk Region's Radiation and Environmental 
Safety Ministry confirmed that report and said divers were trying to reach 
the object.

The meteorite, estimated to have weighed 10,000 metric tons, exploded 
above the city Chelyabinsk on February 15, leaving about 1,500 people 
injured, mostly due to glass shattered by the shockwave.