Geologists Have Found A Meteorite That's Older Than Earth

A team of Australian geologists have found a meteorite fragment that's been deemed older than the Earth itself. The team recovered this by using a network of 32 remote camera observatories, a mass of complicated geographical calculations, an aerial spotter, a remotely operated drone and two human searchers. On 27^th of November 2015, this meteorite fell down on Earth from somewhere further away from the Mars. William Creek and Marree from the South Australia noticed its fall on Earth. It was observed by Desert Fireball Network (DFN), an array of 32 remote camera observatories stationed across the Australian outback. On December 29, DFN team members started to search around Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre area where the meteorite fallen after some analysis and calculations.

Phil Bland and Robert Howie from Curtin University, along with an unmanned drone and a manned light aircraft were leading the DFN team members. After a three-day search that started on December 29, the researchers found the 3.7-pound (1.7 kg) rock embedded in thick salt lake mud, and covered by soft wet mud. It was found partially buried in a 16-inch hole (42 cm) below the surface. Researchers retrieved it just a few hours before the heavy rainfall would have washed it away. The researchers say that the object is a stony meteorite that probably emerged during the early formation of the Solar System more than 4.5 billion years ago. 

“It was an amazing effort. We got there by the skin of our teeth”, said Bland in a statement.

This geological discovery will not only tell us more about the origins of our Universe but it is also an encouragement for the DFN.  Bland also said that the camera observatories would also enable us to calculate the solar system orbit of this meteorite.

Bland's colleague, Jonathan Paxman said “Our team worked around the clock for the rapid recovery of something that would have been lost if we'd gotten there any later”.