Every year, tens of tons of cosmic matter fall to Earth, but almost all of it is microscopic dust that either burns up in the atmosphere or imperceptibly settles on the planet's surface. However, asteroid particles can indeed be found on Earth. Details were revealed by Evgeny Burmistrov, an astronomy expert at Perm National Research Polytechnic University.
Approximately 50 tons of cosmic matter, mostly asteroid dust, reach Earth annually. Most of it burns up in the upper atmosphere and appears as "falling stars."
Some of the finer dust – up to 2 mm in size – gradually settles on the Earth's surface. It is found in Antarctica and in deep-sea oceanic sediments.
Larger fragments, weighing several kilograms, also reach the Earth's surface.
Most of these objects fall into the ocean and go unnoticed. Of those that land on solid ground, only about 1800 pieces per year actually reach the soil. But only a few dozen of them are studied – they are easily confused with ordinary terrestrial rocks.