[meteorite-list] Real 'Stardust' Found on Earth

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon May 10 14:00:32 2004
Message-ID: <200405101800.LAA07881_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://english.pravda.ru/science/19/94/377/12683_stardust.html

Real "stardust" found on Earth
Pravda
May 4, 2004

Japanese scientists discovered particles of stardust right here on
earth. Apparently, they have been formed long before the actual
formation of the Solar system. It is contained in two relatively
small meteorites, found in the deserts of Morocco and Algeria.

Results of experiments have already been published in Tokyo. The
tests were conducted by means of the latest high-tech microscope
by a team of researchers from the capital"s Industrial University
and several other institutes.

Stardust represents mineral particles scattered in space, formed
primarily from atoms of dying stars. Such cosmic grains served
as the main "raw material" in the formation of the planet earth
as well as other planets. While conducting various experiments,
scientists also plan to shed the light on the origin of the Solar
system and other galaxies.

What Japanese scientists discovered in the African meteorites
were 7 grains (ranging from 0,1 to 1 micrometer in size) which,
supposedly, had separated from two different stars before the
formation of the Solar system. They estimated to be 4,6 billion
years old. Judging by the chemical makeup of the particles, they
belong to silicates-main counterparts of 80% of minerals on the
planet.

(Translated by Anna Ossipova)
Received on Mon 10 May 2004 02:00:14 PM PDT