FALL OF THE IPIRANGA, BRAZIL, STONY METEORITE

Name: IPIRANGA

Place of fall: Lageado Ipiranga, district of Alvorada do Iguacu in the Foz do Iguag6 municipality, Parana State, Brazil. Approximately 25^°30'S, 54^°30'W.

Date of fall: December 27, 1972, 10:30 a.m. local time.

Class and type: Stone. Olivine-bronzite chondrite.

Number of individual specimens: About 30

Total weight: An individual of 2.65 kg and a number of small stones.

Circumstances of fall: A bright object heading in a westerly direction was seen to cross the cloudless morning sky of southwest Parana State. It appeared as an "airplane on fire" or a "flying torch" and was visible for several seconds before breaking up. A smoke trail lingered in the sky for over 15 minutes. Detonations lasted several seconds, and machine gun sounds were heard over a much longer period. Houses were shaken, cups tinkled, doors trembled and windows and bookstands vibrated. Specimens were recovered promptly by local residents. The length of the strewnfield is at least 40 km.

Source: Professor Jose M. Luis da Silva. Observatorio Astronomico do Colegio Estudual do Parana, Av. Joao Gualberto, 250, 80,000 - Curitiba - Parana - Brazil.