Carancas Impact Event
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia March 31, 2008.
The Carancas impact event occurred when the Carancas meteorite fell on September 15,
2007. A large chondritic meteorite crashed near the village of Carancas in Peru, close to the
Bolivian border and to Lake Titicaca.[2][3][4][5] The impact created a crater and scorched
earth around its location.[6] A local official, Marco Limache, said that “boiling water started
coming out of the crater, and particles of rock and cinders were found nearby”, as “fetid,
noxious” gases spewed from the crater.[7][8]
After the impact, villagers who had approached the impact site grew sick from a
then-unexplained illness, with a wide array of symptoms.[9][10][11] Two days later, Peruvian
scientists confirmed that there had indeed been a meteorite strike, quieting widespread
speculation that it may have been a geophysical rather than a celestial event. At that point,
no further information on the cause of the mystery illness was known.[5] The ground water in
the local area is known to contain arsenic compounds, and the illness is now believed to have
been caused by arsenic poisoning incurred when residents of the area inhaled the vapor of
the boiling arsenic-contaminated water.[12]
Contents
* 1 The impact event
* 2 Nature of the object
* 3 Illness complaints
• 3.1 Government response
• 3.2 Suspected etiology
* 4 See also
* 5 References
* 6 External links
The impact event
A chondrite recovered in 2000 in Northwest Africa.
At 11:45 local time (16:45 GMT) on September 15, 2007, a chondritic meteorite crashed near
the village of Carancas in the Puno Region, Peru, near the Bolivian border and Lake Titicaca
(see map box on right).[2][3][4][5] The impact created a crater larger than 4.5 m (15 ft)
deep, 13 m (43 ft) wide, with visibly scorched earth around the impact site.[6] A local
official, Marco Limache, said that “boiling water started coming out of the crater, and
particles of rock and cinders were found nearby”, as “fetid, noxious” gases spewed from the
crater.[7][8] The crater size was given as 13.80 by 13.30 meters (45.28 by 43.64 feet), with
it's greatest dimensions in an east-west direction. The fireball had been observed by the
locals as strongly luminous with a smoky tail, and seen from just 1000 meters (3280.84 ft)
above the ground. The object moved in a direction toward N030E. The strong explosion at
impact shattered the windows of the local health center 1 kilometer (0.62 miles) away. A
smoke column was formed at the site that lasted several minutes, and boiling water was seen
in the crater.
Soon after the impact, over 600 villagers who had visited the site began to fall ill from
unexplained causes, including symptoms of dermal injuries, nausea, headaches, diarrhea and
vomiting.[9][10][11] On September 20, Peruvian scientists confirmed that there had been a
meteorite strike, but no further information on the cause of the illnesses was known.[5]
Impact crater specialists have called the impact unusual, and have stated that the meteorite
was at least 3 m (10 ft) in diameter before breaking up.[13] The ground water in the area is
known to contain arsenic compounds, and the illness is now believed to have been caused by
arsenic poisoning incurred when residents of the area inhaled the vapor of the boiling
arsenic-contaminated water.[12]
According to cosmochemist Larry Grossman of the University of Chicago, the aerial lights and
explosions reported were consistent with extraterrestrial material.[14]
The loud noise and explosive impact originally led Peruvians to think that the neighboring
nation of Chile had launched an attack.[15]
Nature of the object
A report from three geologists at Peru’s Geophysics Institute was released on Thursday,
September 20. Astrophysicist Jose Ishitsuka confirmed that there had been a meteorite
strike.[5][13]
On September 20, the X-Ray Laboratory at the Faculty of Geological Sciences, Mayor de San
Andres University, La Paz, Bolivia, published a report of their analysis of a small sample of
material recovered from the impact site. They detected iron, nickel, cobalt, and traces of
iridium — elements characteristic of the elemental composition of meteorites. The
quantitative proportions of silicon, aluminum, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and
phosphorus are incompatible with rocks that are normally found at the surface of the
Earth.[16]
INGEMMET (Instituto Geológico Minero y Metalúrgico) of Peru released internally on
September 21 a report on the Carancas meteorite fall. The release of the document to the
public was delayed for one week. The researchers found that the fragments from the crater
zone had a chondritic texture and the following mineral composition: pyroxene 1; 40%,
olivine; 20%, feldspar; 10%, pyroxene 2; 10%; kamacite; 15%, troilite; 5% and containing
traces of chromite and native copper. Kamacite occurs naturally only in meteorites.
The official classification of the Carancas meteorite, accepted by the Meteoritical Society[17]
was done by a team of scientist working at the University of Arizona. The meteorite is an
ordinary chondrite, an H chondrite breccia, containing clasts of petrologic types 4 to 5. The
formal classification is H4-5. The meteoroid had experienced a considerable amount of shock
before its ultimate encounter with Earth. Further results are expected, and material is also
going to be studied by NASA, British and Japanese researchers according to media reports.[1]
Illness complaints
Afterwards, local townspeople went to see what happened, and 100 to 200 people who got
near to the meteorite crater soon reported feeling sick.[4][5] First responding police officers
arriving to investigate the scene also fell ill.[18] After the initial event of September 15, the
number of people falling ill increased, requiring physicians to establish auxiliary medical
tents for the Carancas health center.[11] Patients were treated for dermal injuries, nausea,
headaches, diarrhea and vomiting.[10][11] The death of nearby livestock was also
reported.[19] Locals made the decision to stop drinking from nearby water sources for fear of
contamination and authorities considered declaring a state of emergency.[7][11] Four days
after the meteorite impact and the unexplained illness, most villagers reported having
recovered.[12]
Reported details about the event, such as water boiling in the muddy crater for ten minutes
from the heat of the impact, presented a problem for experts. Because the impact site is at a
high altitude of more than 3,800 m (12,467 ft), the meteoroid may not have been slowed
down as much as it ordinarily would have been by passage through the Earth’s denser lower
atmosphere, and kinetic energy at impact may have been unusually high for a terrestrial
impact of an object of this size and mass. Most larger meteorites are cold in their bulk mass
when they land on Earth, since their heated outer layers ablate from the objects before
impacting.[13] It was later confirmed that the meteorite had high degrees of iron and
possessed magnetic properties common to similar metallic objects, which contributed to its
capacity to retain heat during atmospheric entry.[20]
Government response
In contrast with other international media reports, Peruvian health officials downplayed the
incident. Jorge López Tejada, the Regional Health Director for Puno, Peru, denied any serious
medical situation existed. However, a health brigade arrived with personnel and medication
to the site on September 18, reporting that the odors rising from the crater were causing
medical issues.[21] Earlier, Tejada had stated that the officers were dizzy, nauseous and
some were vomiting.[22]
On September 19, Andina, Peru’s official government news agency, reported that the sick
villagers appeared to be recovering somewhat.[23] "They are recovering, there aren't any
critical cases. A total of 200 people with different symptoms have been seen," stated López
Tejada.[23] Government officials also specifically asked people to avoid the "glowing object
that fell from the sky."[23]
Suspected etiology
Scientists initially ruled out radiation as the cause of the illness. Renan Ramirez of the
Peruvian Nuclear Energy Institute stated that the medical conditions could have been caused
by sulfur, arsenic or other toxins that may have melted in the extreme heat produced by the
meteorite strike.[24] Some unnamed Peruvian sources stated soon after the event occurred
that it was indeed a meteorite.[4][25] Later on September 18, a Peruvian vulcanologist stated
that the impact was caused by a chondrite meteorite arrival.[26]
Some reports indicated initial suspicions that the illnesses may have been psychosomatic in
nature.[13] Don Yeomans, head of the Near Earth Object Program at NASA’s Jet Propulsion
Laboratory in Pasadena, California, said, “Statistically, it’s far more likely to have come from
below than from above. The noxious fumes that have supposedly sickened curious locals who
went to examine the crater would seem to indicate hydrothermal activity, such as a local gas
explosion, because meteorites don't give off odors.”
By September 21, it was believed that the illness was caused by arsenic poisoning. Luisa
Macedo of Peru’s Mining, Metallurgy, and Geology Institute said gases were created when the
meteorite’s hot surface reacted with an underground water supply tainted with arsenic.
Natural arsenic deposits in ground water are not uncommon in southern Peru. José Ishitsuka
of the Peruvian Geophysics Institute said, “If the meteorite arrives incandescent and at a high
temperature because of friction in the atmosphere, hitting water can create a column of
steam.”[12] Meteorites, however, often impact the earth at low temperatures, making this
an unusual event.[13]
References
1. ^ a b Luisa Macedo F. & José Macharé O., INGEMMET, "The Carancas Meteorite Fall, 15
September 2007", September 21, 2007. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
2. ^ a b Planetario Max Schreier "Meteorito por el Desaguadreo", September 24, 2007.
Retrieved October 10, 2007.
3. ^ a b RSOE Emergency and Disaster Information Service, Budapest, Hungary, "Cosmic
Event - South-America", September 18, 2007. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
4. ^ a b c d Teresa Cespedes, Reuters, "Peruvians get sick from apparent meteorite crater",
September 18, 2007. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
5. ^ a b c d e f Ed Sutherland, All Headline News, "Experts Confirm Peru Meteorite Site",
September 20, 2007. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
6. ^ a b Rory Carroll, The Guardian UK, "Peru meteorite crash 'causes mystery illness'",
September 18, 2007. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
7. ^ a b c MSNBC, "Villagers fall ill after fireball hits Peru", September 18, 2007. Retrieved
October 10, 2007.
8. ^ a b BBC News, "Scores ill in Peru 'meteor crash'", September 18, 2007. Retrieved
October 10, 2007.
9. ^ a b Lester Haines, The Register, "Peruvian 'meteorite' strike provokes noxious gas
attack", September 18, 2007. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
10. ^ a b c Australian Broadcasting Corporation, "Locals fall sick after meteorite lands in
Peru", September 18, 2007. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
11. ^ a b c d e Living in Peru, LIP-ir, "Doctors Aid in Rising Number of Illnesses after
Meteorite Crash", September 19, 2007. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
12. ^ a b c d José Orozco, National Geographic News, "Meteor Crash in Peru Caused
Mysterious Illness", September 21, 2007. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
13. ^ a b c d e Monty Hayes, Associated Press/Google, "Meteorite Likely Caused Crater in
Peru", September 20, 2007. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
14. ^ Andrea Thompson, Space.com, "Scientists Doubt Meteorite Sickened Peruvians ",
September 19, 2007. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
15. ^ Liubomir Fernandez and Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, "Meteorite causes a
stir in Peru", September 21, 2007 (registration is required). Retrieved October 10, 2007.
16. ^ Mario Blanco Cazas, "Informe Laboratorio de Rayos X — FRX-DRX" (in Spanish),
Universidad Mayor de San Andres, Facultad de Ciencias Geologicas, Instituto de
Investigaciones Geologicas y del Medio Ambiente, La Paz, Bolivia, September 20, 2007.
Retrieved October 10, 2007.
17. ^ Meteoritical Bulletin: Entry for Carancas
18. ^ Agence France Presse, "Peruvian scientists probe fumes from meteorite crater",
September 18, 2007 (first published report of event). Retrieved October 10, 2007.
19. ^ CBC News, "600 sick in Peru after 'meteorite' crashes", September 19, 2007. Retrieved
October 10, 2007.
20. ^ Living in Peru, LIP-ir, "Astrophysicist in Peru Identifies Properties in Meteorite",
September 21, 2007, 17:00. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
21. ^ Living in Peru, LIP-ir, "Regional Health Director Reports on Health Near Meteorite
Crash Site", September 18, 2007, 15:00. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
22. ^ Living in Peru, LIP-ir, "Police Officers Hospitalized After Collecting Meteorite Samples
in Peru", September 18, 2007, 11:00. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
23. ^ a b c Living in Peru, LIP-ir, "Peru's Geophysicists Test for Radiation, Meteorite Sickness
Caused by Toxic Gases", September 19, 2007, 16:00. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
24. ^ Agence France Presse, "Peru meteor illness deepens", September 18, 2007. Retrieved
October 10, 2007.
25. ^ Associated Press, " Peru Links Illness to Supposed Meteorite", September 18, 2007.
Retrieved October 10, 2007.
26. ^ Living in Peru, LIP-ir, "Scientist Confirms Meteorite in Puno, Peru is a Chondrite",
September 18, 2007, 18:30. Retrieved October 10, 2007.