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Tree-ring dating of meteorite fall in Sikhote-Alin, Eastern Siberia – Russia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 October 2011

R. Fantucci ,
Mario Di Martino  and
Romano Serra
R. Fantucci
Affiliation:
Geologi Associati Fantucci e Stocchi, 01027 Montefiascone (VT), Italy e-mail: fantuccir@libero.it
Mario Di Martino
Affiliation:
INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Torino, 10025 Pino Torinese, Italy
Romano Serra
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Bologna, via Irnerio 46, 40126 Bologna, Italy
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Abstract

This research deals with the fall of the Sikhote-Alin iron meteorite on the morning of 12 February 1947, at about 00:38 h Utrecht, in a remote area in the territory of Primorsky Krai in Eastern Siberia (46°09′36″N, 134°39′22″E). The area engulfed by the meteoritic fall was around 48 km2, with an elliptic form and thousands of craters. Around the large craters the trees were torn out by the roots and laid radially to the craters at a distance of 10–20 m; the more distant trees had broken tops. This research investigated through dendrocronology n.6 Scots pine trees (Pinus Sibirica) close to one of the main impact craters. The analysis of growth anomalies has shown a sudden decrease since 1947 for 4–8 years after the meteoritic impact. Tree growth stress, detected in 1947, was analysed in detail through wood microsection that confirmed the winter season (rest vegetative period) of the event. The growth stress is mainly due to the lost crown (needle lost) and it did not seem to be caused due to direct damages on trunk and branches (missing of resin ducts).

Keywords

dendrochronologytree ringSikhote-Alinimpact craterextraterrestrial impactmeteoriteRussiaScots pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour)
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Astrobiology , Volume 11 , Issue 1 , January 2012 , pp. 37 - 42
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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