UC Davis geologist Qing-Zhu Yin asks the public for help in gathering pieces of a rare meteorite that fell to earth this spring. UC Davis has one of the few labs set up to study this type of meteorite.
University of California, Davis geologist
Qing-Zhu Yin is appealing for public help in tracking down pieces of the meteorite that blew up over El Dorado County on April 22.
The meteorite, about the size of a minivan, was the rarest type to hit the Earth -- a "carbonaceous chondrite" containing dust and grains, thrown from nearby stars, that went on to form the planets of our solar system billions of years ago, said Professor Qing-Zhu Yin of the UC Davis Department of Geology.
The meteorite, about the size of a minivan, was the rarest type to hit the Earth -- a "carbonaceous chondrite" containing dust and grains, thrown from nearby stars, that went on to form the planets of our solar system billions of years ago, said Professor Qing-Zhu Yin of the UC Davis Department of Geology.
By studying fragments of the meteorite, Professor Qing-Zhu Yin hopes to learn more about exactly how and when the Earth, Mars and other planets formed.
Credit: Qing-zhu Yin/UC Davis photo
By studying fragments of the meteorite, Yin hopes to learn more about exactly how and when the Earth, Mars and other planets formed. His lab at UC Davis is one of a few in the country equipped to make the most accurate measurements of the age and composition of meteorites.
Studying the meteorite could also give insight into the origins of life on Earth, as this type of meteorite is known to contain amino acids, sugars and other organic molecules that are the basic building blocks of life.
Fragments collected so far have attracted high prices from collectors, and some have gone out of state. Yin said he has access to some pieces collected by local residents, but would like to encourage anyone finding a meteorite to donate it to his laboratory.
"We want to realize the scientific value of this event," he said. "It can't be measured in dollars."
So far, most of the search has been around the towns of Lotus and Coloma. But Yin said that there may well be larger pieces farther west, as the meteorite was apparently traveling in that direction when it broke up.
Meteorite fragments will be black or grayish, with a "goose bump" surface and characteristic cracks. If pieces have broken off, specks of minerals will be visible inside, embedded in a charcoal-like matrix. They should look quite distinct from surrounding rocks. Photographs of specimens can be sent to Yin at qyin@ucdavis.edu for authentication.
By studying fragments of the meteorite, Yin hopes to learn more about exactly how and when the Earth, Mars and other planets formed. His lab at UC Davis is one of a few in the country equipped to make the most accurate measurements of the age and composition of meteorites.
Studying the meteorite could also give insight into the origins of life on Earth, as this type of meteorite is known to contain amino acids, sugars and other organic molecules that are the basic building blocks of life.
Fragments collected so far have attracted high prices from collectors, and some have gone out of state. Yin said he has access to some pieces collected by local residents, but would like to encourage anyone finding a meteorite to donate it to his laboratory.
"We want to realize the scientific value of this event," he said. "It can't be measured in dollars."
So far, most of the search has been around the towns of Lotus and Coloma. But Yin said that there may well be larger pieces farther west, as the meteorite was apparently traveling in that direction when it broke up.
Meteorite fragments will be black or grayish, with a "goose bump" surface and characteristic cracks. If pieces have broken off, specks of minerals will be visible inside, embedded in a charcoal-like matrix. They should look quite distinct from surrounding rocks. Photographs of specimens can be sent to Yin at qyin@ucdavis.edu for authentication.
Source: University of California Davis
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