Finding meteorite fragments in Russia

A group of Russian scientists on February 17 found a stone, believed to be a meteorite fragment at Lake Chebarkul in the Chelyabinsk region, on February 15, after the Russian government stopped searching for the debris. this meteorite.

The US Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) estimates the meteorite flew into the Earth's atmosphere at a speed of at least 64,373 km / h and broke into pieces at an altitude of about 30-50km in the Chelyabinsk region. , according to news from RIA Novosti.

A group of divers went to the Chebarkul frozen lake in the Chelyabinsk region, at a temperature of -17 degrees Celsius to search for a meteorite debris on February 16.

But the Russian Emergency Ministry said all search had stopped on February 17.

'Divers have tried their best but found nothing,' AFP quoted Russian Emergency Ministry spokesman Vyacheslav Ladonkin.

A hole 8m wide at the frozen lake of Chebarkul, okay
supposedly where the meteorite debris lands - (Photo: AFP)

According to Mr. Ladonkin, the ministry said that an 8m-wide hole in the Chebarkul frozen lake in the Ural Range, 60km away from Chelyabinsk city, is not where the meteorite debris landed, the newspaper reported earlier.

'We believe this 8m hole is caused by something. The Emergency Department has decided to stop looking , "Mr. Ladonkin added.

However, Mikhail Udovinko, a student who is studying metallurgy at Ural Federal University, the leader of the study, said a small stone was found near the hole.

According to Udovinko, the stone has magnetism and weak nuclear properties.

Light streak of a meteorite in the sky in the city of Chelyabinsk - (Photo: Reuters)

"We have completed the study at Lake Chebarkul, discovering a small stone may be a meteorite fragment containing 10% iron. We can name the meteorite as Chebarkul," said RIA Novosti, Udovinko.

According to RIA Novosti, Lake Chebarkul has become a popular tourist destination since February 15 when many people rushed here to witness the 8m hole in this frozen lake.

Meanwhile, collectors have posted on social networking sites, Russian ads call for those who find meteorite fragments to be auctioned off.

A Russian collector charges 500,000 rubles (about $ 16,000) for each meteorite fragment.