Geologists: First comet part found on earth - STERN.DE

as the comet McNaught C/2001 R1, which was seen in the sky in June 2010, are remnants of the formation of the solar system. Frequently, they develop a luminous tail, which is why they are also known as comets. © Michael hunter / DPA

Ü about today’s Egypt is a comet exploded according to the findings of South African scientists 28 million years ago – which one 1996 found “mysterious” pebble bears witness. After thorough investigation, the 30 gram discovery, the geologists to David Block of the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa were confident Tuesday that this is the first detection of a fragment of a comet nucleus on earth.

“comet passing through our sky again and again, they are like dirty, dust mixed with snow balls,” said Block. “But never in the history of a comet’s material on earth has been found.” The chemical analysis of the black pebble revealed that it consists of 65 percent carbon. In contrast, the carbon content of meteorites lie usually only about three percent.

The cometary impact triggered by the scientists believe a disaster of gigantic proportions that destroyed all life. In a 6000 square kilometer area of ??temperatures up to 2000 degrees Celsius had arisen. This has brought the sand to melt and produces silica glass. A brooch of the famous Pharaoh Tutankhamun, which shows a scarab (Ladybird) be made of this material. By the comet impact the findings also micro-diamonds were produced, according to the scientists.

matter had been detected so far only from comets in the Earth atmosphere and in small traces in the ice of Antarctica. The pebble from the Egyptian desert was named after the ancient astronomer Hypatia who was born around 350 in Alexandria.