Heavenly meteorite in Zhumadian, Henan attracts thousands of people to Taobao
Expert: Relying on meteorites to "get rich" is not reliable, blind search is not reliable
On November 29th, a fire meteor struck the sky, which caused a meteorite rush.
A reporter from the Beijing Youth Daily learned from the Biyang Propaganda Department of Zhumadian, Henan Province on December 8 that thousands of people have arrived in the vicinity of Magutian Town in Biyang to look for meteorites, which has brought a certain degree of pressure on the local forest fire prevention.
However, no domestic institution has confirmed that the meteorite fell to Biyang. Experts believe that “getting rich” from meteorites is not reliable, and blind searches are difficult to succeed.
The sky crosses the bolide
Attracted a large number of "meteorite treasure hunters"
At around 2 am on November 29, citizens in Zhumadian, Luohe, Nanyang, Zhoukou and other places in Henan Province reported that unknown objects were moving across the sky, moving fast and accompanied by loud noises.
According to the live video, a white light flashed in the sky, and the night was instantly illuminated as bright as day.
Netizens in many places in Henan said that they later saw the scene in the sky through surveillance video.
This incident was judged by everyone as a bolide falling incident.
Suddenly, a bolide that no one can tell clearly fell, triggering a wave of meteorite treasure hunts.
Many local media in Henan introduced live broadcasts of local meteorite searches.
Many people searched everywhere in mountains, forests, farmland, and open spaces, and some even tried to find them with the help of metal detectors.
"I got up at 6 in the morning to look for a meteorite. I have been busy for several days and haven't found it..." said Xiao Zhang, a netizen who posted the search content on the video platform. A few days ago, the media reported that the fire meteor appeared in Henan. People were very curious and hoped to try their luck. Later, after hearing that the meteorite might fall in Magutian Town of Biyang, they joined the treasure hunting team.
Xiao Zhang chose to search alone by himself. He first asked the local villagers, hoping to find witnesses, and then went out to search based on the clues provided by the villagers, and posted the process as a video, which attracted some netizens to click.
Mr. Zhang, a staff member of the Propaganda Department of the Biyang County Party Committee, told the Beijing Youth Daily that the incident of the bolide across the night sky was indeed seen by many people, but there is no institution in China to confirm that the conclusive fall was in Biyang, Henan.
Some netizens reported on the video platform that the crash landed in Biyang, triggering everyone to go to Magutian Town and other places to find meteorites on Taobao.
Over the past few days, thousands of people have come to Biyang.
According to Mr. Zhang, most of the people looking for meteorites are people around Biyang, and some netizens from other places also come to use live broadcast, video shooting, etc., hoping to earn traffic on the Internet.
"We can't say that everyone is not allowed to come, nor can we say that everyone is welcome to hunt for treasure. However, the meteorite Taobao incident has brought traffic and forest fire pressure to the local area." Mr. Zhang introduced that there are many mountains and forests near Magutian Town, and the roads are narrow and easy Traffic jams, so the traffic control department had to send more police to ease the traffic.
In addition, in order to prevent forest fires, the local area also reminded people who go up the mountain to look for meteorites not to bring fire seeds.
Ordinary people spontaneously search for meteorites
The probability of success is very small
Xu Weibiao, a researcher at the Purple Mountain Observatory, said in an interview with a reporter from the Beiqing Daily that before falling to the ground, the "meteorite" will violently rub against the atmosphere when it passes through the atmosphere, and there will be a flare of fire outside, so it is called a bolide.
Xu Weibiao said that after entering the atmosphere, the "bolide" is likely to have an airburst and break down into smaller individuals.
Because it is constantly being burned by atmospheric friction as it travels through the atmosphere, small individuals may eventually burn out, and eventually nothing may fall to the ground.
If the "bolide" is not completely worn out and falls on the ground, it becomes a so-called "meteorite."
However, even if it falls on the ground, its value has yet to be evaluated.
Xu Weibiao said that more than 85% of meteorites are ordinary chondrites. Due to the large number of meteorites discovered, scientific research value and market value are not high, it is difficult to sell meteorites to realize ordinary people's "dream of getting rich."
And if it is proved to be a Martian meteorite, a lunar meteorite, an olive meteorite, etc., it is very rare and its relative value is high.
A reporter from Beijing Youth Daily interviewed Zhao Yuxian, deputy secretary-general of the Meteorite Professional Committee of the China Ornamental Stone Association and curator of the Tianxinxing Meteorite Collection.
In addition, Zhao Yuxian told reporters that there are two types of meteorites, one is the sight-dropping type meteorite, and the other is the discovery type meteorite that was found long after the fall.
Most meteorites are black, with crater-like air holes on the surface, which are marks left by atmospheric friction.
After entering the atmosphere, the meteorite rubs against the atmosphere, and the surface temperature can reach several thousand degrees. Therefore, when the meteorite first falls to the ground, most of the meteorite is in a semi-solidified state, leaving some lines, collectively called the retention line.
The sight-dropping type meteorites are relatively fresh and can better retain these characteristics, and it is easier to extract valuable research information; while the discovery type meteorites are affected by the natural factors of the earth, so there will be less effective data that can be obtained.
Zhao Yuxian introduced to a reporter from the Beiqing Daily that when a meteorite enters the atmosphere from outer space, it moves at a speed of about 17 kilometers per second, a speed that is currently unattainable by high-end aircraft.
Every second, the position of the meteorite changes greatly, and it is impossible to determine where it fell with the naked eye or sound.
Generally speaking, professionals need official data to find meteorites that have fallen. The monitoring network determines the location, speed, and direction of the meteorite, and scientifically calculates the final location of the meteorite.
However, there is not much official data to support the bolide incident in Zhumadian, Henan Province. Whether this meteorite can have fragments remaining on the ground is also unknown.
However, it is very difficult to collect some monitoring data and visits.
Meteorites are more valuable than ordinary stones
But the specific price cannot be determined by individuals
As for whether meteorites are regarded as "babies", are they worth so many ordinary people into the mountains to "treasure hunt"?
Zhao Yuxian believes that “the price of a stone will be higher than that of an ordinary stone, but the price of a meteorite cannot be determined by someone.” The composition and volume of the meteorite itself, as well as market demand and media exposure, will all affect the final transaction of the meteorite. price.
At the same time, Zhao Yuxian told reporters that if the meteorite that fell this time is really found, it will still need to be sent to the laboratory for inspection to know what category it belongs to.
After that, the laboratory will submit the data to the International Meteorite Nomenclature Committee. After passing the review, the meteorite will be given an official name and entered into the meteorite naming database for easy search.
Text/Reporter Dong Zhenjie, intern Liu Chang and Liu Jingyi
Coordinator/Sun Huili
statement
The ownership of "meteorites with significant scientific research and ornamental value" belongs to the state
If a meteorite is successfully found in the wild, can it belong to the discoverer?
Attorney Dong Jingjing from Beijing Huazhitao Law Firm said that there are no direct regulations on the ownership of meteorites in Chinese law, but combined with relevant laws, regulations and departmental rules, the ownership of “meteorites with significant scientific research and ornamental value” can be determined. Go to the country.
First of all, according to Article 7, Item 3 of the "Regulations on the Protection and Management of Geological Relics" (hereinafter referred to as "Administrative Regulations"), "meteorites with significant scientific research and ornamental value" are geological relics and should be protected.
At the same time, Article 4 of the "Administrative Regulations" also stipulates: "The protected geological relics are the precious wealth of the country, and no unit or individual may destroy, excavate, trade or transfer in other forms." When there is no clear stipulation in laws and regulations, It can be determined that the ownership of "meteorites with major scientific research and ornamental value" should belong to the state by referring to the provisions of the applicable regulations of the department.
Secondly, Article 9 of my country’s Constitution stipulates: “Natural resources such as mineral deposits, water flows, forests, mountains, grasslands, wastelands, tidal flats, etc., are all owned by the state, that is, owned by the whole people; forests, mountains, and grasslands that are collectively owned by law , Wasteland, and beaches.” The natural resources listed in this law that belong to the state are important and valuable natural resources.
In addition, this legal provision adopts an incomplete list of "natural resources" and does not strictly limit the extension of "natural resources attributable to the state". Therefore, for rare, unique, and important scientific research and The meteorites of ornamental value can be attributed to the category of natural resources owned by the country, which is also conducive to promoting the country's exploration of space and promoting the progress and development of mankind.
Finally, Dong Jingjing reminded that the large number of online news of "selling meteorites to become rich" should be treated wisely, not only because the ownership of "meteorites with significant scientific research and ornamental value" belongs to the state, but also because the process of finding meteorites often requires Going deep into dangerous places may even bring about life concerns. The pursuit of wealth should have a rational and safe attitude.