[meteorite-list] Meteorite Fall in Zimbabwe?

From: Greg Hupe <gmhupe_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Sep 1 09:08:13 2005
Message-ID: <045401c5aef6$30e0bdb0$73105c18_at_Gregor>

Hi Mike and List Members,

Too bad I just heard about the Zimbabwe fall until just now. I just got back
from Morocco last night and don't check the list or emails while there. I
could have taken a "relatively" quick flight to check it out.

Oh well, I did get several achondrites, a couple large irons (4 & 5 kilos
each) and about 450kg of chondrites of different weathering levels. I also
have a couple of cool surprises that the lab will have to confirm for me.

Take care,
Greg

----- Original Message -----
From: <meteoritehunter_at_comcast.net>
To: "Ron Baalke" <baalke_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>; "Meteorite Mailing List"
<meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Monday, August 29, 2005 9:10 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Meteorite Fall in Zimbabwe?


> Damn, too bad I am in Panama right now, or I would be there in a
> heartbeat............
> Of course, Mugabe would want me to pay him for that stone.
> Mike Farmer
>
>
>>
>> http://www.zimbabweherald.com/index.php?id=46403
>>
>> Meteorite leaves villagers dumbfounded
>> By Freeman Razemba
>> The Herald (Zimbabwe)
>> August 30, 2005
>>
>> VILLAGERS in Dotito, Mount Darwin were left dumbfounded last week and
>> are living in fear after they discovered a black stone, which is
>> believed to have fallen from the outer space.
>>
>> The stone known as meteorite was 21cm long and 13cm wide, weighing about
>> 4,1kg.
>>
>> It has since been taken to Forensic Scientists Laboratory at the
>> Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Harare for further
>> investigations.
>>
>> These types of stones fall to the earth and contain grains of
>> nickel-iron and metal.
>>
>> Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Michael Munyikwa said
>> several villagers from Chaworeka Village heard noise like that of a
>> helicopter last Monday at around 5pm.
>>
>> "The villagers heard some noise, which resembled that of a helicopter,
>> coming from the eastern direction and the noise was followed by clouds
>> of dust," he said.
>>
>> Insp Munyikwa said the stone fell on the ground a few minutes later and
>> about metres away from a Mr Jeriko Muzanembi's homestead.
>>
>> He was cutting some poles in a field when the incident occurred.
>>
>> Mr Muzanembi and other villagers teamed up and went to investigate and
>> discovered that it was an object, which looked like a stone.
>>
>> "The impact of the stone cut 15cm deep into the earth when it landed on
>> the ground and the villagers discovered that it was an object which
>> looked like a stone. It was black in colour and had white particles
>> inside," said Insp Munyikwa.
>>
>> A report was made to the police who informed the forensic scientists,
>> geologists and the army. It was taken to Dotito Police Station and
>> later, to Harare.
>>
>> According to some scientists, the stone could have changed its size,
>> colour and weight as it was falling to the ground, as a result of high
>> temperatures, which could have been more than 2 000 Degrees Celsius.
>>
>> Police said after completing their investigations with the help of some
>> experts, the stone would be taken to the National Museum.
>>
>> A meteorite is a small extra-terrestrial body that reaches the earth's
>> surface. While in space these bodies are called meteoroids and they are
>> called meteors after entering earth's atmosphere but before reaching the
>> surface. These are small asteroids, approximately boulder sized or less.
>>
>> When it enters the atmosphere, air drag and friction cause the body to
>> heat up and emit light, thus forming a fireball or shooting star.
>>
>> Throughout the ages, meteorites were venerated as sacred objects by
>> different cultures and ancient civilisations.
>>
>> The spectacular fall of a meteorite, accompanied by light and sound
>> phenomena, such as falling stars, smoke, thunder, and sonic booms, has
>> always kindled the human imagination, evoking fear and awe in everyone
>> who witnesses such an event.
>>
>> For obvious reasons, the remnants of these incidents, the actual
>> meteorites, were often kept as sacred stones or objects of power.
>>
>> They were worshiped, and used in their respective religious ceremonies.
>>
>> However, a meteorite on a celestial body is a small object that has come
>> from elsewhere in space.
>>
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Received on Thu 01 Sep 2005 09:08:04 AM PDT