[meteorite-list] Meteorite Lands in Sri Lanka

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon Dec 6 15:57:08 2004
Message-ID: <200412062056.MAA18408_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://www.dailynews.lk/2004/12/07/new12.html

Meteorite lands in Polonnaruwa
by Manjula Fernando
Daily News (Sri Lanka)
December 7, 2004

Further studies are being conducted into the fallen meteorite found at
the Sankabodhi Viharaya, Polonnaruwa by the Arthur C Clarke Institute
for Modern Technologies to find its definite origin.

The tests are to determine whether the object which shows certain
magnetic qualities, is from the asteroid belt, inner solar system or
outside the solar system, Dr. Chandana Jayaratne said.

This asteroid which fell to the Sankabodi Viharaya on November 27,
creating a fissure 3.6 cm in length, 3.3 cm in width and 3 cm in depth
has now been confirmed to be a rare type iron meteorite by the Arthur C
Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies after an X-Ray Fluorescence
Spectrometry analysis and several other tests, Dr. Jayaratne said.

A resident monk has seen a blue smoke tail when it came down. According
to eye witnesses the object was shining metallic blue but within 24
hours it has turned brownish black due to oxidation after contact with
oxygen in the earth's atmosphere.

The meteorite weighing 47.015 grms. consists of elements Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe
and Zn and was the first outer space object to be tested since the
setting up of the meteorite testing laboratory at the Clarke Institute.
Received on Mon 06 Dec 2004 03:56:55 PM PST