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Over 100-ton Aerolite Discovered in NW China
A group of aerolites, which cover several square kilometers in area, have been found in northern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwest China.
Zhang Hui, an assistant research fellow with the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional Museum, said that the biggest aerolite among the group is estimated to weigh over 100 tons. The heaviest aerolite so far discovered in the world weighs 60 tons, found in Namibia in 1920.
Zhang, who discovered the iron meteorites in Qinghe County, said that the number of this group of cloud stones is estimated at several thousand.
An aerolite weighing 32 tons was also found in the county in 1898, according to Zhang.
Most of the aerolites discovered this time are round and pointed, their surface covered with holes. Zhang analyzed that they are metals which combine components of iron and nickel.
Zhang said that aerolite is of great scientific and cultural value in studying the birth of elements, the formation and evolution of the universe, the solar system and life on earth.
Zhang said what is surprising is that stone human figures carved out of the aerolites, and rock paintings featuring the images of cattle, sheep, horse and camel were also found on the
cloud stones.
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