Hypatia (stone)

Hypatia is a small stone, thought to be the first known specimen of a comet nucleus.[1]

Discovery

Hypatia was discovered in December 1996 by Aly A. Barakat at 25°30′E 25°20′N, in the same area where Libyan Desert Glass is found.[2]

Analysis

Tests done in South Africa, show that Hypatia contains microscopic diamonds and that it is of extraterrestrial origin. It is thought to have been part of the body whose impact caused the creation of the Libyan desert glass.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Libyan desert glass: Diamond-Bearing Pebble Provides Evidence of Comet Striking Earth". sci-news.com.
  2. 1 2 "Unique chemistry of a diamond-bearing pebble from the Libyan Desert Glass strewnfield, SW Egypt: Evidence for a shocked comet fragment". Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 382: 21–31. Bibcode:2013E&PSL.382...21K. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2013.09.003.
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