Michael Farmer and the Meteorite of Peru
Alan Boyle, of MSNBC's Cosmic Log, likened it to an Indiana Jones movie. Michael Farmer, himself, called it "Another day in the life of a meteorite hunter," but says he did stir up "a slight international incident." So, what was the fuss all about?
Image at Right: Meteorite hunter Michael Farmer kneels at the rim of a crater in Peru.
You may recall a story we told you about a couple of weeks ago that happened in Peru. It was being reported that a meteorite had crashed and hundreds of Peruvian villagers had become ill. (Sickness From Space) Farmer, who hunts, collects and sells meteorites, was in Spain when the event happened, and because of all the confusion in the reporting, at first discounted the possibility of an actual meteorite fall.
Later reports seemed to confirm the meteorite fall, while questioning the claims about illness. (Yes to the Meteorite; Questions About an Illness) Armed with this knowledge and his experiences with meteorites, Michael Farmer headed to Peru, hoping to help clear up some of the questions, and because, well, it's his business.
After visiting the local police, and buying some fragments, which seemed to be in almost everyone's pockets, Farmer was taken to the site. There, he spent a few days exploring the area and interacting with the locals. He purchased more samples from local farmers and spoke with their assembly about the best course of action in regards to the meteorite and crater.
Farmer, himself, believes there should be more scientific study of the meteorite and crater, but Peruvian scientists report being turned away by local guards. Possibly that is because scientists are notoriously poor and do not have the funds for generating good will as Farmer did.
Here is where the controversy begins. Victor Anaya, the Chief of Police in Desaguadero, Puno, Peru states that police did not permit Michael Farmer into the crater left by the meteorite because he only had a tourist pass and was therefore not authorized to take samples. Farmer says that some of the police became unhappy with the $100.00 they were being paid for pieces of rock, and from their rumblings he became concerned that if he did not pay more, he might find himself in the local jail.
Rather than take his chances with the Peruvian legal system (I can't say that I blame him, I saw "Midnight Express," as well), Farmer and his crew, grabbed another taxi to take him to a different border crossing, escaping back into Bolivia. "We were much happier being safe in Bolivia."
Which side of the story is accurate? That may or may not become clearer as a called-for investigation occurs. However, Peru certainly has its reasons for being cautious. As in other countries with exciting archeological locations, many artifacts have routinely been carted off by greedy entrepreneurs and collectors, primarily from the Machu Pichu ruins. Farmer, on the other hand, feels he was completely on the up-and-up, and in fact provided a valuable service to the locals.
As to questions about the authenticity of the meteorite and stories of illness, Farmer had his own thoughts. "It's probably the largest chondrite meteorite to have fallen," possibly as much as 10 tons. He also said that stories of odors coming from the crater were overblown, as were the numbers of ill villagers, which probably were closer to thirty than the hundreds often reported.
He speculates that the odor of sulfur, coupled with fright, sickened the first patients, and a touch of mass hysteria led to the rest.
As for the samples he purchased during his adventure, upon returning to his home in Tucson, AZ, Michael Farmer was already in the laboratory at the Lunar and Planetary Sciences building with Dr. Dolores Hill and Dr. Harold Connolly, donating samples of the Carancas meteorite for immediate analysis. He says the meteorite is already being distributed to labs all around the world. "I will ensure that as many scientists as possible can study specimens."
Of course, all of this, especially the guards keeping away scientists, will only serve to fuel conspiracy rumors. (See the comments to my earlier posts: Sickness From Space and Yes to the Meteorite; Questions About an Illness)
Image Credit:Michael Farmer
Comments
Mike Farmer lied about what happened in Carancas. Both the Police Chief of Desaguadero and myself will be filing charges in Peru. I also plan on filing charges and will initiate a libel suit against Mr. Farmer for trying to damage my reputation in the scientific community. Evidence will be made available upon request.
Randall
Randall,
Would you care to elaborate on what you dispute about Mr. Farmer’s story?
Randall Gregory is a total nutjob. I can forward his emails, where he pretends to be a doctor, a lawyer and uses different names in each, then admits that it is him.
So email me, I will forward all emails, then see who you believe.
Michael Farmer
Earth’s Newest Impact Crater
Lake Titicaca (Carancas) Meteorite Fall
September 15, 2007 16:45 UTC
THE EVENT
It was mid-afternoon when the inhabitants of the little community of Carancas, Peru heard a peculiar sound, a noise never heard before, coming from the heavens.
They looked up and to their surprise saw a brilliant light illuminate the sky much brighter than the noonday sun.
With this intense light was a long column of smoke trailing up into the sky. This vision lasted a few brief seconds. The noise, the light, the smoke, and then…
IMPACT
Impact and a GIGANTIC EXPLOSION occurred. The equivalent of almost 6 tons of TNT exploded with a force greater than the largest aerial bomb in existence.
To the inhabitants near the impact, the explosion was massive. Two animals reportedly killed instantly by the expanding shock wave.
A man reportedly 300 meters away was blown off his feet and windows shattered in a health department at a distance over 1 kilometer.
Instantaneously, seismic stations on the PeruNet seismic network recorded a tremor close to 2.0 on the Richter scale.
Some residents 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the blast, in the town of Desaguadero seen the light, heard the explosion and felt the ground quake.
What was it? What happened? Are we under attack? Was it an airplane? Bomb? Questions asked as confusion started to set in…
CONFUSION
Word started to spread… Chile is attacking Peru! No, a jet airliner, a passenger plane crashed? A gasoline truck exploded? Was it a terrorist attack? What happened? Confusion started to run rampant…
Meanwhile, back at the impact site, a huge, invisible and rapidly expanding, toxic cloud started to form. Heavier than air, it slid along the ground, expanding rapidly.
People in the immediate vicinity scared, but curious to what had just happened, moved toward the crater. Wondering…
As the people came into contact and breathed this expanding, invisible gas, their nose, eyes and lungs immediately started to hurt, feeling stung by a “thousand little bees” and causing intense pain. Some started clutching their throats and falling to the ground.
And then… PANIC!
PANIC
The police alerted to the explosion, were racing from the town of Desaguadero, sirens blaring…
People at the impact site now were getting violently ill. Some started to collapse. Some vomiting… Others were clutching their throats, covering their eyes, crying and screaming in pain.
As the police arrived, they saw a scene they would never forget. A scenario they never trained for. An emergency never imagined, never before encountered. This was their call to duty.
We can only imagine what questions they were asking themselves and among themselves. What unearthly event had happened here on this sunny afternoon. What caused these people to panic? Why are they crying and screaming? WHAT HAPPENED?
Panic was breeding and transforming.
Hysteria was now the norm…
HYSTERIA
To the police, the first step was to protect and attend to the victims. They moved the victims away from the crater and to an area they felt was safe and secure.
By now, these heroic police started to experience some of the same symptoms the people were experiencing. It was the same stinging, burning pain in their throats, nose, eyes, and lungs. What is causing this sickness they wondered?
They moved to the crater to find the source. This massive hole in the earth, was now steaming and bubbling like a witch’s cauldron…
Already sickened, they saw strange gray fragments scattered along the ground. Large chunks of a grayish material uncommon to the natural reddish soil in this area.
Could this be the cause, they wondered? An order was giving to collect these strange fragments and move them to a secure area.
Word was now spreading of this terrible sickness…
THE TERRIBLE SICKNESS
The police cordoned off the area as health officials started to arrive. Their question was the same as the police. What is causing this mysterious illness? Is this permanent or temporary? Could it be radiation? Will these people die?
People were taken to local area clinics and hospitals soon after the impact.
Health officials started to collect a wide variety of specimens to send for testing. Hair, blood, urine, tissue, throat and nasal swabs were all collected and sent to labs for analysis.
Preliminary lab results came back negative for pathogens (bacteria, viruses). Hematological (blood) results were also negative. So what caused this illness among the people? The answer will be discovered much later…
In all, scores of people and a total of 7 police officers were sickened and subsequently recovered fully. The strange gray material was now locked away at police headquarters in the town of Desaguadero. By the next morning, some of the people seemed to be recovering, feeling much better.
Now the rumors of what happened started to spread…
RUMORS
In days following the event, newspapers around the world tuned in and reported this amazing event.
Media hysteria and hype were running the gamut. One news organization speculated that Russian nuclear-powered satellite fell into this community and radiation was making the people ill.
Another, alien invasion akin to “War of the World’s
Yet another newspaper said it was a terrorist bombing. And the hype went on and on…
Even well-known scientists could not agree as to what happened in the middle of the afternoon. September 15, 2007. Some refused to believe this was an impact by a huge meteorite that other scientists had speculated.
Finally, as more information was released, the consensus among scientists was that indeed, this was a massive meteorite fall.
As experts started to arrive, real answers started to emerge…
EXPERTS ARRIVE
One of the first group of scientists to arrive were from the Max Schreir Planetarium in La Paz, Bolivia.
Other Peruvian scientists arrived shortly after, including astrophysicist Jose Ishitsuka of Peru’s Geophysics Institute.
Still more scientists came from UNSA and IGEMMET.
SPECULATION
Peter Schultz, a meteor crater specialist at Brown University, said the latest details suggest this might be an unusual type of meteor strike, and that given the crater’s size, the original meteoroid had to have been at least 10 feet in diameter before breaking up.
Excerpted from: The American Meteor Society
Meteoroids enter the earth’s atmosphere at very high speeds, ranging from 11 km/sec to 72 km/sec (25,000 mph to 160,000 mph). However, similar to firing a bullet into water, the meteoroid will rapidly decelerate as it penetrates into increasingly denser portions of the atmosphere. This is especially true in the lower layers, since 90 % of the earth’s atmospheric mass lies below 12 km (7 miles / 39,000 ft) of height.
At the same time, the meteoroid will also rapidly lose mass due to ablation. In this process, the outer layer of the meteoroid is continuously vaporized and stripped away due to high speed collision with air molecules. Particles from dust size to a few kilograms mass are usually completely consumed in the atmosphere.
Due to atmospheric drag, most meteorites, ranging from a few kilograms up to about 8 tons (7,000 kg), will lose all of their cosmic velocity while still several miles up. At that point, called the retardation point, the meteorite begins to accelerate again, under the influence of the Earth’s gravity, at the familiar 9.8 meters per second squared. The meteorite then quickly reaches its terminal velocity of 200 to 400 miles per hour (90 to 180 meters per second). The terminal velocity occurs at the point where the acceleration due to gravity is exactly offset by the deceleration due to atmospheric drag
Meteoroids of more than about 10 tons (9,000 kg) will retain a portion of their original speed, or cosmic velocity, all the way to the surface. A 10-tonner entering the Earth’s atmosphere perpendicular to the surface will retain about 6% of its cosmic velocity on arrival at the surface. For example, if the meteoroid started at 25 miles per second (40 km/s) it would (if it survived its atmospheric passage intact) arrive at the surface still moving at 1.5 miles per second (2.4 km/s), packing (after considerable mass loss due to ablation) some 13 gigajoules of kinetic energy.
All this speed in atmospheric flight puts great pressure on the body of a meteoroid. Larger meteoroids, particularly the stone variety, tend to break up between 7 and 17 miles (11 to 27 km) above the surface due to the forces induced by atmospheric drag, and perhaps also due to thermal stress. A meteoroid which disintegrates tends to immediately lose the balance of its cosmic velocity because of the lessened momentum of the remaining fragments.
Jay Melosh, an expert on impact craters and professor of planetary science at the University of Arizona. Melosh was skeptical at first, initially calling it a “non-meteorite” and suggesting that the crater might have possibly come from below as a volcanic eruption.
Other details don’t add up, they said — such as witness accounts of water in the muddy crater boiling for 10 minutes from the heat. Meteorites are actually cold when they hit Earth, astronomists say, since their outer layers burn up and fall away before impact.
Fact: The water bubbled due to the displacement of earth and water. High pressure air
trapped in front of the meteorite and forced into the mud may help to explain the bubbling. It is also believed that the resulting pressurized mud and combined rapid inflow of water back into the crater from the water table contributed to the bubbling.
Experts also puzzled over claims that 200 local residents were sickened by fumes from the crater. Doctors who examined them found no evidence of illness related to the meteorite, and one suggested a psychosomatic reaction to the sight and sound of the plunging meteor.
Fact: The intense irritation experienced by contact with the gas was the vaporization of Trolite and Kamatite. Apparently, this process also produces hydrogen sulfide gas. Initial press reports listed hundreds, yet only thirty or so were sickened, including 7 police officers.
People living near the crater said they had smelled a sulfurous odor for at least an hour after the meteorite struck and that it had provoked upset stomachs and headaches. But Ishitsuka said he doubts reports of a sulfurous smell.
Fact: Hydrogen sulfide gas was created in the vaporization stage when the heat from friction vaporized the Trolite and Kamatite minerals in the meteorite.
Meteor expert Ursula Marvin said that if people were sickened, “it wouldn’t be the meteorite itself, but the dust it raises.”
Fact: The gases generated from the meteorite made people sick.
A meteorite “wouldn’t get much gas out of the earth,” said Marvin, who has studied the objects since 1961 at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Massachusetts. “It’s a very superficial thing.”
Fact: The impact vaporized water, minerals in the meteorite and minerals in the soil.
Modesto Montoya, a member of the medical team, told El Comercio that fear may have provoked psychosomatic ailments.
Fact: Contact with the gas generated produced pronounced physical reactions.
“When a meteorite falls, it produces horrid sounds when it makes contact with the atmosphere,” he said. “It is as if a giant rock is being sanded. Those sounds could have frightened them. ”
Fact: People were scared to death. This was an event never encountered on a scale this size.
REAL ANSWERS
The meteorite was Chondrite or stony type of meteorite. A massive impact crater was produced.
The temporary sickness was caused by the vaporization of Kamatite and Trolite in the meteorite combined with native arsenic present in the soil. This produced a sort of extraterrestrial type of “Tear Gas”. This gas was profoundly irritating to the respiratory tract and mucous membranes but non-lethal.
Sickness was limited to a few dozen people that lived in the immediate vicinity of the crater even though the press reported hundreds taken ill.
Reports of animals killed and a man blown down by the shock wave have been verified, a sheep killed by the shock wave and a llama killed by falling debris..
NOW COME THE PREDATORS
As verification was published that this indeed was a meteorite fall, meteorite dealers around the world started making travel arrangements. One internationally-known dealer and wholesaler of meteorites was the multi-millionaire Mr. Michael Farmer. His method of operation is to rush to the scene of a meteorite fall purchasing stones for pennies and; reselling them on eBay, wholesaling them to other dealers, and selling them at shows for exorbitant prices. It was later reported that Mr. Farmer fixed the price of Carancas meteorite at $100 per gram.
On a side note, just prior to the Carancas fall, Mr. Farmer had flown to Columbia, purchased some stones that had struck and penetrated a house in Cali. At the present time it is unknown exactly what Mr. Farmer paid the home owner for the meteorites, but the current asking price for a ½ gram specimen on eBay is now $1,450 It is reported that Mr. Farmer paid very little for the stones.
Before his trip to Peru, Mr. Farmer contacted two fellow dealers, Mr. Robert Ward from the state of Colorado and a Mr. Mortiz Karl from Germany. These were fellow dealers that had gone with him on prior excursions.
With pockets full of money, Mr. Farmer and associates flew to La Paz, Bolivia and then crossed over into Peru.
THE PLAN
The first contact these dealers made was with the police and then the people of Desaguadero. Mr. Farmer, posing as an American scientist from the University of Colorado, called a meeting and told these people that buried in the crater was a meteorite rotting away and was worth thousands and thousands of dollars, but in reality the meteorite was worth hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars.
He also told the people that the meteorite would “rot” if left in the crater and that it needed to be removed immediately. The people believed every word he said. He was, of course, an American scientist.
One can only surmise what was running through the mind of this dealer. It can be reasonably speculated that if indeed the meteorite had been extracted, that Mr. Farmer would have offered to purchase it for tens of thousands of dollars in the name of science. Paid for in cash, and then taken it across the border to Bolivia and transported it back to the United States.
Mr. Farmer enjoys telling people what he does is in the interest of science, however it has been clearly established that Mr. Farmer rarely donates to institutions, but more often, sells to these institutions what he collects.
A PLAN GONE ASTRAY
After Mr. Farmer had convinced the people of Desaguadero that the meteorite was valuable and needed to be removed immediately, word started to spread through this little town.
The people then demanded that the government take action and remove the meteorite. The mayor of Desaguadero, alarmed by this growing sentiment, gave in to the demands of the people.
An order was given and with the coordination of the Department of Civil Defense and the National Police, a portable water pump was taken to the crater along with Mr. Farmer and crew. It was there that they anxiously awaiting the prize.
The pump was started and water started to flow out of the crater. The water in the crater was in reality an exposed layer of water (ground water table) two meters below the surface. Almost as fast as the pump drained the water would the crater refill. After repeated attempts, the pumping of the water was called off. The hopes of the people and Mr. Farmer were dashed. The people were quite upset that the government stopped the extraction.
PLAN B
Mr. Farmer and crew solicited the local people living near the crater offering to purchase any meteorites they had collected.
Mr. Farmer, pockets bulging with cash, paid a very good price for whatever he could collect. Twenty dollars is considered a small fortune to these dirt-poor people. Good honest hard-working proud people with families. Believing he was a scientist, they trusted him and were told these stones were going to universities in the United States and around the world.
These poverty-ridden people that live in this area make a very meager living raising few animals, and growing the only food possible at this high altitude, potatoes and yams. They occasionally supplement their diet with llama, sheep, and chicken.
Most residents of this little community have no running water or sanitation, living in houses constructed of mud bricks. No windows, no kitchen, no bath, no TV, phone, microwave, dishwasher, stove, heat or electric lights. The bathroom consists of an outhouse located 50 or so meters from their tiny houses.
Not knowing anything about meteorites and their real value, they readily gave up their stones. Stones they believed were a gift from the heavens. They went to sleep with hopes and dreams. Word started to spread of these rich men buying stones…
LOOKING FOR MORE
Now that these three dealers had only purchased and collected a meager amount of meteorite material, they asked around for more.
People told Mr. Farmer that the police had collected the majority of the stones immediately after the fall and they might have some left at Police Headquarters.
Mr. Farmer and associates went again to police headquarters to inquire if any stones were available for purchase.
After the fall, scientists from various Peruvian institutions had made requests for samples to study and analyze. The police generously gave the majority of what meteorites they had collected, without any form of compensation, to these Peruvian scientists.
THE PURCHASE
It is documented that Mr. Farmer, disappointed at his meager gain, made an offer to purchase stones at Police Headquarters while posing as an American Scientist from the University of Colorado. The type of scientist he claimed to be is presently unknown at this time. Additional interviews in Desaguadero are scheduled.
Apparently, the police, believing these stones were going to a University in the United States, sold Mr. Farmer some small stones in the neighborhood of a few hundred grams for a price unknown. This is Mr. Farmer’s version of what happened.
It is to be noted that the base salary of a National Police officer is a little less than 1,000 soles per month regardless of rank. The ranks of Private through the rank of Major all have the same base pay grade. Higher ranking officers have a few bonuses such as gasoline for their vehicles and a travel and food allowance. One thousand soles is equivalent to $300 per month by American standards.
The apparent two kilogram purchase by the Bolivian scientist for $2,000 was almost a year’s salary for these officers. These are poor yet respected police officers that supplement their meager incomes by guarding banks and businesses in their off-duty time, sometimes working 12 – 14 hour days.
It has not been proven that the police sold to either the Bolivian scientist
A NARROW ESCAPE
By now, the people hearing that the excavation of the meteorite failed, started a protest. They assembled at the municipality building at Desaguadero and shouted that the government wanted to keep the meteorite and not share it with the people.
A larger and more violent protest was expected the next day according to reports.
The police meanwhile had found out that Mr. Farmer and his associates had entered Peru on a tourist visa and not in the manner that they had originally claimed. The police had contacted the National Police Headquarters in Lima to inquire about these dealers. It was clear that Mr. Farmer had misrepresented himself and quite possibly, his associates. There was no title of doctor to his name, no credentials, no card representing a University or other scientific institution, only a man with a lot of cash to spread around.
After the police had determined that Mr. Farmer was not a scientist from the United States, they decided that Mr. Farmer had already caused enough trouble with the population of Desaguadero. Fearing for the safety of these Americans and somewhat angered by the misrepresentation of Mr. Farmer and his associates, two low ranking police officers were dispatched to Mr. Farmer’s hotel
Mr. Farmer was told by the police that he was no longer welcome in Peru and that he had to leave. They also told them that they could not give him and his friends any more protection. Protection is reserved for visiting VIP’s and they had other duties to perform. It is unknown at this present time, if it was Major Anaya or orders from the National Police headquarters to immediately expel Mr. Farmer and associates from Peru.
Mr. Farmer then claims that the police tried to exhort money from him prior to his departure. A claim denied by the police and yet to be substantiated.
Mr. Farmer and associates then entered Bolivia and returned to their respective homes.
Mr. Farmer is trying to divert attention from his actions in Peru. Yes, it is true I have multiple email accounts. One is a recreational account, one is personal, and the other is professional. I have never made any such claim to title or education. Let Mr. Farmer prove that I made any untrue claims regarding my identity.
The truth is that Mr. Farmer said to the Police Chief at Desaguardero that he was an American Scientist from the University of Colorado.
Earth’s Newest Impact Crater
Lake Titicaca (Carancas) Meteorite Fall
September 15, 2007 16:45 UTC
THE EVENT
It was mid-afternoon when the inhabitants of the little community of Carancas, Peru heard a peculiar sound, a noise never heard before, coming from the heavens.
They looked up and to their surprise saw a brilliant light illuminate the sky much brighter than the noonday sun.
With this intense light was a long column of smoke trailing up into the sky. This vision lasted a few brief seconds. The noise, the light, the smoke, and then…
IMPACT
Impact and a GIGANTIC EXPLOSION occurred. The equivalent of almost 6 tons of TNT exploded with a force greater than the largest aerial bomb in existence.
To the inhabitants near the impact, the explosion was massive. Two animals reportedly killed instantly by the expanding shock wave.
A man reportedly 300 meters away was blown off his feet and windows shattered in a health department at a distance over 1 kilometer.
Instantaneously, seismic stations on the PeruNet seismic network recorded a tremor close to 2.0 on the Richter scale.
Some residents 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the blast, in the town of Desaguadero seen the light, heard the explosion and felt the ground quake.
What was it? What happened? Are we under attack? Was it an airplane? Bomb? Questions asked as confusion started to set in…
CONFUSION
Word started to spread… Chile is attacking Peru! No, a jet airliner, a passenger plane crashed? A gasoline truck exploded? Was it a terrorist attack? What happened? Confusion started to run rampant…
Meanwhile, back at the impact site, a huge, invisible and rapidly expanding, toxic cloud started to form. Heavier than air, it slid along the ground, expanding rapidly.
People in the immediate vicinity scared, but curious to what had just happened, moved toward the crater. Wondering…
As the people came into contact and breathed this expanding, invisible gas, their nose, eyes and lungs immediately started to hurt, feeling stung by a “thousand little bees” and causing intense pain. Some started clutching their throats and falling to the ground.
And then… PANIC!
PANIC
The police alerted to the explosion, were racing from the town of Desaguadero, sirens blaring…
People at the impact site now were getting violently ill. Some started to collapse. Some vomiting… Others were clutching their throats, covering their eyes, crying and screaming in pain.
As the police arrived, they saw a scene they would never forget. A scenario they never trained for. An emergency never imagined, never before encountered. This was their call to duty.
We can only imagine what questions they were asking themselves and among themselves. What unearthly event had happened here on this sunny afternoon. What caused these people to panic? Why are they crying and screaming? WHAT HAPPENED?
Panic was breeding and transforming.
Hysteria was now the norm…
HYSTERIA
To the police, the first step was to protect and attend to the victims. They moved the victims away from the crater and to an area they felt was safe and secure.
By now, these heroic police started to experience some of the same symptoms the people were experiencing. It was the same stinging, burning pain in their throats, nose, eyes, and lungs. What is causing this sickness they wondered?
They moved to the crater to find the source. This massive hole in the earth, was now steaming and bubbling like a witch’s cauldron…
Already sickened, they saw strange gray fragments scattered along the ground. Large chunks of a grayish material uncommon to the natural reddish soil in this area.
Could this be the cause, they wondered? An order was giving to collect these strange fragments and move them to a secure area.
Word was now spreading of this terrible sickness…
THE TERRIBLE SICKNESS
The police cordoned off the area as health officials started to arrive. Their question was the same as the police. What is causing this mysterious illness? Is this permanent or temporary? Could it be radiation? Will these people die?
People were taken to local area clinics and hospitals soon after the impact.
Health officials started to collect a wide variety of specimens to send for testing. Hair, blood, urine, tissue, throat and nasal swabs were all collected and sent to labs for analysis.
Preliminary lab results came back negative for pathogens (bacteria, viruses). Hematological (blood) results were also negative. So what caused this illness among the people? The answer will be discovered much later…
In all, scores of people and a total of 7 police officers were sickened and subsequently recovered fully. The strange gray material was now locked away at police headquarters in the town of Desaguadero. By the next morning, some of the people seemed to be recovering, feeling much better.
Now the rumors of what happened started to spread…
RUMORS
In days following the event, newspapers around the world tuned in and reported this amazing event.
Media hysteria and hype were running the gamut. One news organization speculated that Russian nuclear-powered satellite fell into this community and radiation was making the people ill.
Another, alien invasion akin to “War of the World’s
Yet another newspaper said it was a terrorist bombing. And the hype went on and on…
Even well-known scientists could not agree as to what happened in the middle of the afternoon. September 15, 2007. Some refused to believe this was an impact by a huge meteorite that other scientists had speculated.
Finally, as more information was released, the consensus among scientists was that indeed, this was a massive meteorite fall.
As experts started to arrive, real answers started to emerge…
EXPERTS ARRIVE
One of the first group of scientists to arrive were from the Max Schreir Planetarium in La Paz, Bolivia.
Other Peruvian scientists arrived shortly after, including astrophysicist Jose Ishitsuka of Peru’s Geophysics Institute.
Still more scientists came from UNSA and IGEMMET.
SPECULATION
Peter Schultz, a meteor crater specialist at Brown University, said the latest details suggest this might be an unusual type of meteor strike, and that given the crater’s size, the original meteoroid had to have been at least 10 feet in diameter before breaking up.
Excerpted from: The American Meteor Society
Meteoroids enter the earth’s atmosphere at very high speeds, ranging from 11 km/sec to 72 km/sec (25,000 mph to 160,000 mph). However, similar to firing a bullet into water, the meteoroid will rapidly decelerate as it penetrates into increasingly denser portions of the atmosphere. This is especially true in the lower layers, since 90 % of the earth’s atmospheric mass lies below 12 km (7 miles / 39,000 ft) of height.
At the same time, the meteoroid will also rapidly lose mass due to ablation. In this process, the outer layer of the meteoroid is continuously vaporized and stripped away due to high speed collision with air molecules. Particles from dust size to a few kilograms mass are usually completely consumed in the atmosphere.
Due to atmospheric drag, most meteorites, ranging from a few kilograms up to about 8 tons (7,000 kg), will lose all of their cosmic velocity while still several miles up. At that point, called the retardation point, the meteorite begins to accelerate again, under the influence of the Earth’s gravity, at the familiar 9.8 meters per second squared. The meteorite then quickly reaches its terminal velocity of 200 to 400 miles per hour (90 to 180 meters per second). The terminal velocity occurs at the point where the acceleration due to gravity is exactly offset by the deceleration due to atmospheric drag
Meteoroids of more than about 10 tons (9,000 kg) will retain a portion of their original speed, or cosmic velocity, all the way to the surface. A 10-tonner entering the Earth’s atmosphere perpendicular to the surface will retain about 6% of its cosmic velocity on arrival at the surface. For example, if the meteoroid started at 25 miles per second (40 km/s) it would (if it survived its atmospheric passage intact) arrive at the surface still moving at 1.5 miles per second (2.4 km/s), packing (after considerable mass loss due to ablation) some 13 gigajoules of kinetic energy.
All this speed in atmospheric flight puts great pressure on the body of a meteoroid. Larger meteoroids, particularly the stone variety, tend to break up between 7 and 17 miles (11 to 27 km) above the surface due to the forces induced by atmospheric drag, and perhaps also due to thermal stress. A meteoroid which disintegrates tends to immediately lose the balance of its cosmic velocity because of the lessened momentum of the remaining fragments.
Jay Melosh, an expert on impact craters and professor of planetary science at the University of Arizona. Melosh was skeptical at first, initially calling it a “non-meteorite” and suggesting that the crater might have possibly come from below as a volcanic eruption.
Other details don’t add up, they said — such as witness accounts of water in the muddy crater boiling for 10 minutes from the heat. Meteorites are actually cold when they hit Earth, astronomists say, since their outer layers burn up and fall away before impact.
Fact: The water bubbled due to the displacement of earth and water. High pressure air
trapped in front of the meteorite and forced into the mud may help to explain the bubbling. It is also believed that the resulting pressurized mud and combined rapid inflow of water back into the crater from the water table contributed to the bubbling.
Experts also puzzled over claims that 200 local residents were sickened by fumes from the crater. Doctors who examined them found no evidence of illness related to the meteorite, and one suggested a psychosomatic reaction to the sight and sound of the plunging meteor.
Fact: The intense irritation experienced by contact with the gas was the vaporization of Trolite and Kamatite. Apparently, this process also produces hydrogen sulfide gas. Initial press reports listed hundreds, yet only thirty or so were sickened, including 7 police officers.
People living near the crater said they had smelled a sulfurous odor for at least an hour after the meteorite struck and that it had provoked upset stomachs and headaches. But Ishitsuka said he doubts reports of a sulfurous smell.
Fact: Hydrogen sulfide gas was created in the vaporization stage when the heat from friction vaporized the Trolite and Kamatite minerals in the meteorite.
Meteor expert Ursula Marvin said that if people were sickened, “it wouldn’t be the meteorite itself, but the dust it raises.”
Fact: The gases generated from the meteorite made people sick.
A meteorite “wouldn’t get much gas out of the earth,” said Marvin, who has studied the objects since 1961 at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Massachusetts. “It’s a very superficial thing.”
Fact: The impact vaporized water, minerals in the meteorite and minerals in the soil.
Modesto Montoya, a member of the medical team, told El Comercio that fear may have provoked psychosomatic ailments.
Fact: Contact with the gas generated produced pronounced physical reactions.
“When a meteorite falls, it produces horrid sounds when it makes contact with the atmosphere,” he said. “It is as if a giant rock is being sanded. Those sounds could have frightened them. ”
Fact: People were scared to death. This was an event never encountered on a scale this size.
REAL ANSWERS
The meteorite was Chondrite or stony type of meteorite. A massive impact crater was produced.
The temporary sickness was caused by the vaporization of Kamatite and Trolite in the meteorite combined with native arsenic present in the soil. This produced a sort of extraterrestrial type of “Tear Gas”. This gas was profoundly irritating to the respiratory tract and mucous membranes but non-lethal.
Sickness was limited to a few dozen people that lived in the immediate vicinity of the crater even though the press reported hundreds taken ill.
Reports of animals killed and a man blown down by the shock wave have been verified, a sheep killed by the shock wave and a llama killed by falling debris..
NOW COME THE PREDATORS
As verification was published that this indeed was a meteorite fall, meteorite dealers around the world started making travel arrangements. One internationally-known dealer and wholesaler of meteorites was the multi-millionaire Mr. Michael Farmer. His method of operation is to rush to the scene of a meteorite fall purchasing stones for pennies and; reselling them on eBay, wholesaling them to other dealers, and selling them at shows for exorbitant prices. It was later reported that Mr. Farmer fixed the price of Carancas meteorite at $100 per gram.
On a side note, just prior to the Carancas fall, Mr. Farmer had flown to Columbia, purchased some stones that had struck and penetrated a house in Cali. At the present time it is unknown exactly what Mr. Farmer paid the home owner for the meteorites, but the current asking price for a ½ gram specimen on eBay is now $1,450 It is reported that Mr. Farmer paid very little for the stones.
Before his trip to Peru, Mr. Farmer contacted two fellow dealers, Mr. Robert Ward from the state of Colorado and a Mr. Mortiz Karl from Germany. These were fellow dealers that had gone with him on prior excursions.
With pockets full of money, Mr. Farmer and associates flew to La Paz, Bolivia and then crossed over into Peru.
THE PLAN
The first contact these dealers made was with the police and then the people of Desaguadero. Mr. Farmer, posing as an American scientist from the University of Colorado, called a meeting and told these people that buried in the crater was a meteorite rotting away and was worth thousands and thousands of dollars, but in reality the meteorite was worth hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars.
He also told the people that the meteorite would “rot” if left in the crater and that it needed to be removed immediately. The people believed every word he said. He was, of course, an American scientist.
One can only surmise what was running through the mind of this dealer. It can be reasonably speculated that if indeed the meteorite had been extracted, that Mr. Farmer would have offered to purchase it for tens of thousands of dollars in the name of science. Paid for in cash, and then taken it across the border to Bolivia and transported it back to the United States.
Mr. Farmer enjoys telling people what he does is in the interest of science, however it has been clearly established that Mr. Farmer rarely donates to institutions, but more often, sells to these institutions what he collects.
A PLAN GONE ASTRAY
After Mr. Farmer had convinced the people of Desaguadero that the meteorite was valuable and needed to be removed immediately, word started to spread through this little town.
The people then demanded that the government take action and remove the meteorite. The mayor of Desaguadero, alarmed by this growing sentiment, gave in to the demands of the people.
An order was given and with the coordination of the Department of Civil Defense and the National Police, a portable water pump was taken to the crater along with Mr. Farmer and crew. It was there that they anxiously awaiting the prize.
The pump was started and water started to flow out of the crater. The water in the crater was in reality an exposed layer of water (ground water table) two meters below the surface. Almost as fast as the pump drained the water would the crater refill. After repeated attempts, the pumping of the water was called off. The hopes of the people and Mr. Farmer were dashed. The people were quite upset that the government stopped the extraction.
PLAN B
Mr. Farmer and crew solicited the local people living near the crater offering to purchase any meteorites they had collected.
Mr. Farmer, pockets bulging with cash, paid a very good price for whatever he could collect. Twenty dollars is considered a small fortune to these dirt-poor people. Good honest hard-working proud people with families. Believing he was a scientist, they trusted him and were told these stones were going to universities in the United States and around the world.
These poverty-ridden people that live in this area make a very meager living raising few animals, and growing the only food possible at this high altitude, potatoes and yams. They occasionally supplement their diet with llama, sheep, and chicken.
Most residents of this little community have no running water or sanitation, living in houses constructed of mud bricks. No windows, no kitchen, no bath, no TV, phone, microwave, dishwasher, stove, heat or electric lights. The bathroom consists of an outhouse located 50 or so meters from their tiny houses.
Not knowing anything about meteorites and their real value, they readily gave up their stones. Stones they believed were a gift from the heavens. They went to sleep with hopes and dreams. Word started to spread of these rich men buying stones…
LOOKING FOR MORE
Now that these three dealers had only purchased and collected a meager amount of meteorite material, they asked around for more.
People told Mr. Farmer that the police had collected the majority of the stones immediately after the fall and they might have some left at Police Headquarters.
Mr. Farmer and associates went again to police headquarters to inquire if any stones were available for purchase.
After the fall, scientists from various Peruvian institutions had made requests for samples to study and analyze. The police generously gave the majority of what meteorites they had collected, without any form of compensation, to these Peruvian scientists.
THE PURCHASE
It is documented that Mr. Farmer, disappointed at his meager gain, made an offer to purchase stones at Police Headquarters while posing as an American Scientist from the University of Colorado. The type of scientist he claimed to be is presently unknown at this time. Additional interviews in Desaguadero are scheduled.
Apparently, the police, believing these stones were going to a University in the United States, sold Mr. Farmer some small stones in the neighborhood of a few hundred grams for a price unknown. This is Mr. Farmer’s version of what happened.
It is to be noted that the base salary of a National Police officer is a little less than 1,000 soles per month regardless of rank. The ranks of Private through the rank of Major all have the same base pay grade. Higher ranking officers have a few bonuses such as gasoline for their vehicles and a travel and food allowance. One thousand soles is equivalent to $300 per month by American standards.
The apparent two kilogram purchase by the Bolivian scientist for $2,000 was almost a year’s salary for these officers. These are poor yet respected police officers that supplement their meager incomes by guarding banks and businesses in their off-duty time, sometimes working 12 – 14 hour days.
It has not been proven that the police sold to either the Bolivian scientist
A NARROW ESCAPE
By now, the people hearing that the excavation of the meteorite failed, started a protest. They assembled at the municipality building at Desaguadero and shouted that the government wanted to keep the meteorite and not share it with the people.
A larger and more violent protest was expected the next day according to reports.
The police meanwhile had found out that Mr. Farmer and his associates had entered Peru on a tourist visa and not in the manner that they had originally claimed. The police had contacted the National Police Headquarters in Lima to inquire about these dealers. It was clear that Mr. Farmer had misrepresented himself and quite possibly, his associates. There was no title of doctor to his name, no credentials, no card representing a University or other scientific institution, only a man with a lot of cash to spread around.
After the police had determined that Mr. Farmer was not a scientist from the United States, they decided that Mr. Farmer had already caused enough trouble with the population of Desaguadero. Fearing for the safety of these Americans and somewhat angered by the misrepresentation of Mr. Farmer and his associates, two low ranking police officers were dispatched to Mr. Farmer’s hotel
Mr. Farmer was told by the police that he was no longer welcome in Peru and that he had to leave. They also told them that they could not give him and his friends any more protection. Protection is reserved for visiting VIP’s and they had other duties to perform. It is unknown at this present time, if it was Major Anaya or orders from the National Police headquarters to immediately expel Mr. Farmer and associates from Peru.
Mr. Farmer then claims that the police tried to exhort money from him prior to his departure. A claim denied by the police and yet to be substantiated.
Mr. Farmer and associates then entered Bolivia and returned to their respective homes
So according to Mr. Gregory, purchasing goods and selling them at a profit is illegal and unethical? Beware rare book dealers, art collectors, real estate investors, and anyone else who dares profit off of others in a mutually agreed upon exchange. Offering native people several month’s salary for stones should not be tolerated? I suppose Mr. Gregory volunteers all of his time and would not stoop so low as to extort his employer with salary demands.
There are costs to doing business, including risk. For every successful trip there is an unsuccessful trip in which costs are incurred but no revenues realized. If entreprenuers can’t make a profit, they can’t sustain business. If no one were to profit in business, then people such as the Peruvians would see no value from a random event that happened to occur in their backyard. Instead of getting valuable dollars, they would have merely observed sickness and a few dead livestock.
I personally prefer capitalism and democracy over socialism and communism.