ИСТИНА

The first discovery of iron-nickel micrometeorites near the surface of snow cover in Central East Antarctica, Vostok station Bulat S.A.1, Ezhov V.F.1, Tselmovich V.A. 2 (tselm@mail.ru) 1NRC Kurchatov Institute - PNPI, Gatchina, Leningrad Region. 2GO «Borok» of IFZ RAS For the first time in Central East Antarctica (nearby the Russian Vostok station) with exposure during the calendar year (2017-2018) the fraction of iron-nickel micrometeorites was successfully collected with the use of powerful neodymium magnets arranged in a 1m long string placed vertically above the snow filed surface. Preliminary analysis of the most bottom magnet sample (No. 1) allowed to discover magnetic microparticles featured the properties of the cosmic dust. Amongst them are magnetite ablation spheres with a dendrite surface and spheres with well-recrystallized surface, iron-nickel alloy (tenite) as well as pure iron and zinc microparticles. Similar particles were earlier observed in sphagnum layers and sediments where they represented the significant fraction. Thus, for the first time, it was demonstrated that Central East Antarctica is the planchette to collect iron-nickel micrometeorites 1-50 mkm in size using the neodymium magnets. This planchette is the best with given purpose because it is unbelievably clean of technogenic and Earth-bound dust, in general, leading to natural enrichment of cosmic dust there. Regarding the magnetic micrometeorites enrichment, this planchette seems to be even more preferable because of location od geomagnetic pole nearby the Russian Vostok station.