Meteorite fragment that landed in Qatar makes a big impression

Meteorite collector Marcin Kożusznik found “Qatar 001” 20km from the Saudi border. RIGHT: Kożusznik’s meteorite collection fascinates visitors at the American School of Doha. PICTURE: Joey AguilarBy Joey Aguilar/Staff ReporterA meteorite fragment weighing 3kg, found at the Old Emirate Road, about 20km from Qatar’s border with Saudi Arabia, was the cynosure of all eyes at American School of Doha Friendship Festival on Friday.Named “Qatar 001” by the Humboldt University in Germany, the meteorite fragment was exhibited by collector Marcin Kozusznik, a Polish, who works as a lab co-ordinator at the Compass International School Doha.“Qatar 001” was part of a meteorite collection put on show by Kozusznik, who has given lectures about meteorites and special rocks at ASD and other schools in the country.“Meteorite fragments are usually named after the place, village or city where they are found,” he told Gulf Times. “The biggest chance to find a meteorite is to go to the places where somebody found them before,” Kozusznik explained. When it falls from the sky, it breaks into pieces and scatters on the ground in the same area. The distance from each of the pieces may possibly be about one to 10km.Given the rusty texture of its surface, the meteorite collector believes that “Qatar 001” had been in the country for thousands of years. “Scientists would know by testing and checking its outer minerals, and observing how they react with the some conditions such as the weather,” he said.The first meteorite fragment in Qatar was found in 1999 (named Kathia) while the second, found only in 2010, is yet to be named. In the same year, someone from Russia found another fragment and it was examined by the Russian Institute. If officially named, the fourth fragment might be called Ghuwayriyah since it was found near a village in Qatar.Kozusznik stressed that meteorites fall during the day unnoticed by most people. “Not many people are watching the sky all the time”.But citing the case in Russia, small or big pieces fall on the ground “but we don’t see it”. The collector also estimates that about two meteorites fall from the skies of Qatar in five to six years.If found, these fragments should be sent to a scientist for registration and classification, according to Kozusznik. “You can put your name and submit it to the data base where it will be stored forever,” he added. “Scientists can borrow the piece and compare it with other data”.Asked why he collects fragments, he said it always serves as a new discovery for him: a material which can be part of a supernova and it may bring a huge impact in various researches especially in astronomy.About his collection, Kozusznik disclosed that he has about 30 to 40kg of different meteorite fragments which he found from different countries around the world. He noted that 99% of meteorites had iron and could be recognised using magnets. The Gebel Kamil looks like a metal lightly coated with rust. It was found in Egypt in 2009. Other fragments included a 14.89gms Sikhote – Alin which was found in Russia in 1947. Another one is the 470gm Campodel Cielo, found in Argentina in 1576. Kozusznik’s recent collection included a 4.5kg meteorite which he has yet to classify. He always takes with him a magnet to check rocks which look different from other rocks. Compared to usual rocks, meteorites are heavier because they contain iron, he added.