A fireball shining brighter than the Sun and leaving a smoke trail
was observed by numerous eyewitnesses in an area of about 500 km
2
.
The fireball disappeared in 5-6 seconds but the trail was visible
for an hour. A powerful explosion caused a weak earthquake. Windows
in nearby villages were broken by the impact wave. The meteorite fell
on the frozen Shirokovsky reservoir situated on the Kosva River near
Shirokovsky village and the cities of Ugle-Uralsk and Kizel. The meteorite
made a 42 cm diameter hole in the 80 cm thick ice sheet and sank to
the bottom at a depth of 23 m. Magnetic particles enriched in Ni were
extracted from the ice surrounding the hole.
Several attempts by divers to recover the meteorite on the bottom
were not successful. In early 2002, anonymous researchers found the
meteorite after 3 years of searching. Many fragments of about 150
kg in total were found.
Apparently the main meteorite body was destroyed during the collision.
Classification and mineralogy (S. Afanasiev, Vernadky Institute),
Analyzes (N.Kononkova, G.Kolesov, Vernadky Institute):
olivine, Fa11.6;
bulk metal, Co=2.4 %, Ni = 35.6 %;
Ga = ** ppm;
Ge = ** ppm;
Ir = ** ppm, Au = **.
Specimens: ** g,
Vernadsky Institute; main mass with anonymous finder.
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