[meteorite-list] Scientists Study Lunar Meteorite (Dhofar 280)
From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon May 24 17:06:28 2004 Message-ID: <200405242105.OAA25437_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov> http://www.timesofoman.com/newsdetails.asp?newsid=57199&pn=local Scientists study lunar rock found in Dhofar Times of Oman May 25, 2004 MUSCAT - Scientists currently focus on a rare lunar rock found in Dhofar governorate and is expected to reveal, for the first time, more information on the mineral and chemical composition of meteorites, according to Dr Salim bin Hamad Al Busaidi, director of geological surveying at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Dr Busaidi said studies on the meteorite, named Dhofar 280, were carried out at university laboratories in the US and Russia and the stone was found to contain three formations of iron and silica indicating that its origin was the moon. He added the meteorite was also found to have tiny quantities of nickel, phosphorus and chromium. The official said the chemical composition of the meteorite showed it came from higher parts of the moon which are lighter in colour and geologically older from its lower parts. He said Dhofar 280 looked much like a similar meteorite named Dhofar 81 collected earlier, also from Dhofar, but was found too small to add any new information. A Martian rock weighing 223kg and named Sayah Al Ahmar 94 was also discovered in the Sultanate. Dr Busaidi said the Sultanate is now well-known around the world as a field for search of meteorites and added that studies were being carried out abroad on 1,336kg of such rocks collected by the Directorate-General of Minerals from various parts of the Sultanate especially from Dhofar governorate and the central region. Received on Mon 24 May 2004 05:05:32 PM PDT |
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