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Peru's Geological Institute: Crater Where Meteorite Landed is to Disappear in 2 Months

(LIP-ir)  --  Peru's Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Institute (INGEMMET) announced today that the crater left by the meteorite that landed in a small town in Puno, Peru would disappear in two or three months.

Experts estiamted that the crater would be gone within this time because of the accumulation of dirt and water in the hole itself. They stated that the accumulation would be due to the rainy season this region of Peru is experiencing.

Director of Geology for Peru´s INGEMMET, Hernando Nuñez del Prado, stated that the roof which was to be built could keep the crater safe from the intense rain. He stated that the rain would increase the river's activity, thus causing it to directly affect the crater.

"There will be no evidence that a meteorite had landed there," said Nuñez del Prado. The specialist said he was sorry because he knew that locals wanted the crater to be a tourist attraction.

Nuñez del Prado requested that no unauthorized person get close to the area where the meteorite had landed. He explained that the next two months should be dedicated to a serious investigation and a scientific study of the area.

After thesestudies are done, the specialist stated that scientists would search for and retrieve the meteorite which is several meters below the earth. In addition, he explained that an attempt to extract the water from the crater would not be made because it would be impossible. He stated that the earth was saturated with water and the crater would always be full.

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# MJC says :
6 October, 2007 [ 18:36 ]

GET THE METEORITE OUT OF THE WATER NOW! It is rotting, it is rusting, and by the time you get around to it, the meteorite will be useless to science, for the most part.

Pump. Pump. Pump. Pump ....away.

What a shame this whole story is... No science, Greed, Corrupt Local Officals, Hysteria, Lies, Tourists threatened and robbed!

MJC

# Jon says :
15 October, 2007 [ 07:47 ]

Local people have been selling of pieces off.  Regretable but understandable.  The only accusations of corruption and threats come from a dodgy foreign dealer.  Despite this science has been and is being done.

# Randall Gregory says :
18 December, 2007 [ 23:48 ]

Michael J. Cottingham you are an idiot. One of the biggest I've seen in quite a while.

You have absolutely no conception of this event and the science behind it. The meteorite is fine. There is little or no oxidation taking place. If you don't believe me, go research the internet on objects buried under the sea floor and oxidation rates. Then research oxidation rates on objects buried in cold water.

In my home state of michigan, some guy made a business of retrieving logs that sunk to the bottom of a cold lake that were cut in the 1920's. These logs were almost as fresh as the day they were cut.

Do the research before you make stupid comments. It doesn't reflect well on you.

# Bob says :
19 December, 2007 [ 01:07 ]

You're talking about very different pressures, temperatures, and additives in the water in the Great Lakes, compared to a urine-filled mud hole.

Also, it is hard to stretch any type of similarity between a stone meteorite and wood.

I guess we'll have to wait and see...

# Randall Gregory says :
19 December, 2007 [ 14:09 ]

My point was that objects buried in a cold environment show little decay. Oxidation is a key component in decay.

Any urine has long been diluted and disipated by the active water table and spring rains. Also, urine is sterile when it leaves the body. Most public swimming pools have a higher level than the crater.

Remember that this is not just a mud-hole but a hole into a very high and active water table. My point is that the cold mud will prevent oxidation of the meteorite. It is a stone, abiet a stone entombed in cold mud with very little oxygen reaching the meteorite.

Estimates on the size of the buried meteorite range from football size to the roughly the size of a small car.

# Bob says :
20 December, 2007 [ 10:59 ]

Your argument is an excellent example of non sequitur logic!

You are not making any sense!

I think it is YOU who needs to do more research before making stupid comments.

No offense.

# Randall Gregory says :
8 January, 2008 [ 05:22 ]

Bobby,

What's non sequitur about it.

Meteorite is object that will oxidize.
Objects buried in cold mud oxidize slowly.
Therefore, meteorite will oxidize slowly.

Do you now see the logic or should I simplify it for you.

Better yet, boy. Have someone who is computer-literate go to the Google search engine and ask them to type in things like: oxidation rates, mud, objects buried. Ya know, stuff like dat. Then ask them to explain it to you in simple terms. Da picture should be a little clearer for you. If not, ask your science teacher or your Dad.

No offense taken.

Randall

# Bob says :
20 January, 2008 [ 02:15 ]

Poor Randall,

I can see that you are denser than Iridium.

Unless you agree to pay me, I don't have time to tutor you.

I say this with the kindest intention - you don't know what you are talking about, and nothing you say follows a logical path. 
Do yourself a favor and give up your attempt to understand science.
Just go to your neighborhood basketball court to shoot hoops every day.

And wipe your nose - you look disgusting!

# Randall says :
20 January, 2008 [ 03:18 ]

I just look at the fact that you have offered absolutely no science to refute my statements. That in itself shows me that you just like to shoot off your mouth. When the meteorite is extracted the science will be proven.

# Rich says :
20 January, 2008 [ 07:37 ]

Bob and Randall,

I work at the CMO (Clinical Research into Meteorite Oxidation) and I can put your minds at rest by stating that the meteorite would only oxidate if left long term in the water. At the moment there is no evidence of this, and you both should not worry and rather than involve yourselves in a bitter email spat, get out and enjoy the summer sun.

For more info on Oxidating Meteorites, visit oxidatingmeteoritesthefacts.org

Rich

# Bob says :
2 February, 2008 [ 17:30 ]

Rich,

It seems that you work in a place that doesn't exist - unless CMO is what you call what you've fixed up in your basement.

More likely, you and Randall are the same person, and you are trying to sound more intelligent than your alter-ego.
What you have written is the same ridiculous and irrelevant nonsense as under the name of Randall.

Sorry, Randall, the votes are in - you're still thought of as an idiot, and a bit of a d***.

No offense.

# Randall Gregory says :
3 February, 2008 [ 03:01 ]

Bob a.k.a MJC,

Don't you have anything better to do? Is your life that useless?

Rich is obviously an intelligent person with a keen sense of humor. It was a great post. I hope he sticks around. Thanks Rich!

You've said absolutely nothing of value so do I care what you think?

Get a life! Find something to do!!!. I'm going surfing with my wife tomorrow! I love when she wears a thong on that young, perfect body of hers...


 

# Bob says :
29 February, 2008 [ 11:02 ]

"  I'm going surfing with my wife tomorrow! I love when she wears a thong on that young, perfect body of hers...  "

Just how much air pressure does she take when fully inflated?

# Randall Gregory says :
29 February, 2008 [ 21:01 ]

Now that's 

# Randall Gregory says :
29 February, 2008 [ 21:02 ]

Funny!