Salalah – A rock sample found by a citizen in Dhofar has been confirmed as a meteorite weighing about 12kg, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism stated.

Saeed bin Humaid Al Harizi contacted the ministry after suspecting that a rock he discovered in the Ramlat Jadila area of Mitan could be a meteorite.

The ministry documented the sample and sent it for laboratory testing, which confirmed its meteoritic origin.

H E Ibrahim bin Saeed Al Kharousi, Undersecretary for Heritage in the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, honoured Al Harizi for reporting the find to the authorities.

The ministry said the case highlighted the importance of public participation in protecting Oman’s geological heritage and ensuring that discoveries of scientific and historical value are properly documented and studied.

It added that such cooperation also helps raise awareness of geological discoveries and supports their use for scientific and educational purposes.