An estimated 1,000 meteors weighing nearly 4,775 kg fell in the Sultanate, according to a statistics conducted by Washington University. The statistics showed that the Sultanate is among the countries that experience the most meteorite fall at 14 per cent of world total meteorite fall statistics.
The studies show that the flux of meteorites to the Earth has been constant since 50,000 years. Meteor with weighs ranging between 10 gr to 36 gr amounted to 116 meteors for every 1 million sq km annually which means that 11 to 36 meteorites fell on Oman every year.
Of the 1,000 meteors falling on Oman there are 70 lunar meteorites (lunaites) and 17 Martian meteorites (SNCs). The Public Authority for Mining strives to preserve these treasure and exploit them in science and economy. Dr Ali bin Salim al Rajhi, Director-General of Researches and Geological Surveys, (pictured), at the Public Authority for Mining said most of the meteorites that were found in Oman originate from the asteroid belt located between the orbits of the planets Mars and Jupiter. Martian and lunar meteorites were also discovered but they are rare. — ONA
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