[meteorite-list] Russian Scientists Claim Victim Meteorite To Be Ice Boulder

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:21:09 2004
Message-ID: <200307281512.IAA01398_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://www.gateway2russia.com/st/art_119901.php

Russian scientists claim Vitim meteorite to be ice boulder
Gateway To Russia
July 27, 2003

[Presenter] An explosion occurred in Irkutsk Region last autumn [in the early hours
of 25 September 2002]. An expedition [organized by the Kosmopoisk international
scientific research association] made sensational conclusions about the origin of the
Vitim meteorite. [Correspondent Aleksandr Beloglazov] The majority of some 500
witnesses of the meteorite fall were gold prospectors. At first they were absolutely
sure that a nuclear war had started. The shock wave was felt over 100 sq.km.
Fortunately, there were no settlements in the area - and no casualties. [Vadim
Chernobrov, the head of expedition, captioned, speaking at a news conference at the
Argumenty i Fakty newspaper] The blast is comparable with that of an average atomic
bomb. However, it is several times less powerful than that of the Tungus meteorite
explosion [on 30 June 1908]. The Tungus meteorite blast is known to be 2,000 time
more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb. [Correspondent] No large meteorite
fragments were found at the scene. This makes scientists to believe that it was
not a meteorite that collided with the Earth. In the epicentre, the expedition found
ice and snow. The scientists had to search for water themselves there. And quite by
chance, they tested not just the Earth, but the space ice as well. [Chernobrov] We
found ice in the very first craters and thought it to be of terrestrial origin.
However, in a few moments we realized that it was extremely bitter. [Correspondent]
By composition, this ice resembled water in lakes located next to nuclear power
plants. Three days after the fall of the Vitim boulder, the level of radiation had
practically doubled in the area. And this does not happen after meteorite falls. By
now, the radiation level is back to normal. Many locals started to feel unwell
immediately after the explosion. [Chernobrov] In 12 hours, that is the next morning,
many felt ache in joints. Three days later blood-pressure-related diseases reached
their peak. Seven days later, there was a peak in kidney diseases. [Correspondent]
People kept on feeling unwell for some two months. Half a year later, when the
space ice started melting, kidney problems resumed, however, not for long. The
scientists say that if the space ice was to be blamed for illnesses, the danger is
over, as it had all melted away. [Video shows the news conference and some footage made
by the expedition] [Ren TV]
Received on Mon 28 Jul 2003 11:12:24 AM PDT