* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: Breitscheid meteorite

Blobrana · L

METEORITE OF BREITSCHEID. PART I

On August 11, 1956. a stone meteorite. the weight of which was supposed ; to be about 1.5 kg. fell at Breitscheid in the Dillkreis (50° 51' N, 8° 12' ; E); but. before recognition of its meteoritic character, the stone was broken to ; pieces so that the total weight of the fragments amounted only to 970 g. The ; petrographic examination showed in thin sections a multiplicity of most ; characteristic chondrules; the Breitscheid meteorite is a bronzite--olivine-; chondrite. It is remarkable that troilite was found in primary as well as in ; secondary formation and that ilmenite could be proved to be a meteoritic mineral. ; The total chemical analysis corresponds very well with the petrographic results. ; Helium, neon, argon, tritium, potassium, and uranium were measured by special ; methods developed during the course of work. It was found that the isotopic ; composition of helium and neon greatly differs from that of the corresponding ; terrestrial gases. A geological age of 3300 million years results from the argon/; potassium ratio. The content of helium and neon differs widely in various parts ; of the meteorite; a phenomena which has to be explained in detail. An ; irradiation age of result from the ratio helium-3 to tritium in one part of the ; meteorite.

Source

Blobrana · L

Name: BREITSHEID
The place of fall or discovery: Lat. = 50°40'.1 N; Long. = 8°11'.1E. near the small town of Breitsheid, 8 km to the west of Heiborn, Dill district, Hessen, West Germany.
Date of fall or discovery: 11 August 1956, between 15:30 and 15:45 European mean time.
Class and type: stone, meteorite, light grey chondrit.
The number of separate specimens: 1 (?); it measures 5 x 10 x 15 cm.
Total weight: the initial total weight is assumed to be some what less than 1 kg.
The circumstances of the fall or discovery: the fall of the meteorite was observed as a short, light yellow, somewhat reddish fiery trail. Judging by the broken branches of trees and the aspect of the hole, it may be concluded that the meteorite fell from west to east at an angle of 45°. During the fall, sounds were heard resembling a locomotive letting out steam. No crash was heard. The meteorite was found 30 min. after its fall. The person who discovered the stone thought it must have fallen from an aeroplane that had recently flown past and that it was of no scientific value whatever. The meteorite remained warm for a long time. As a result of striking a stone in the ground the meteorite must have broken into 14 pieces at least.
At the end of September the fall of the meteorite became known at the Max-Plank-Institute (Mainz, W.G.) of Chemistry. Measures were taken to collect the fragments that it was still possible to find. Judging by the fragments and also by the depth of the hole it may be concluded that the initial weight of the stone must have been somewhat less than 1 kg.
The fall of the meteorite was seen by Mrs. Reich (who was standing 45 metres from the spot where it fell), Mr. Reich, Mrs. Fork and Mr. Zenzinger. Günter Thielmann took care of the meteorite and reported the fall.
Source (PDF)

Blobrana · L

The Breitscheid (H5) meteorite fell in Hessen, Germany, on the 11th August, 1956.
A total mass of 1500 g was recovered.

50° 40' 1"N, 8° 11' 1"E