Fragment of Rare Meteorite Discovered in South Africa’s Eastern Cape
Scientists in South Africa recently unveiled a fragment of a rare meteorite discovered in the Eastern Cape province. The fragment, which is about the size of a motorcycle, was found last month in a small town.
Meteor Sighting Across Three Provinces
On 25 August, residents in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, and Free State witnessed a dramatic celestial event. A streak of blue-white and orange light lit up the sky, followed by a loud explosive sound and ground vibrations. Scientists believe this was caused by a meteor entering the Earth’s atmosphere and breaking apart.
Unique Characteristics of the Nqweba Meteorite
The rare meteorite, provisionally named the Nqweba Meteorite, is black and shiny on the outside, with a light grey, concrete-like interior. Despite its small size, it weighs less than 90 grams and has a diameter of less than 5 centimetres. According to Roger Gibson, a professor at the University of the Witwatersrand’s School of Geosciences, the friction caused by the atmosphere resulted in the meteor breaking up into smaller pieces, creating the fireball observed by locals.
Young Girl’s Remarkable Discovery
The meteorite was found by 9-year-old Eli-ze du Toit, who was sitting on her grandparents’ porch in Nqweba. She saw a dark rock fall from the sky, picked it up, and handed it to her mother. The rock was still warm from its descent. Her mother later passed the meteorite to scientists for examination.
