New Delhi - Geologists appear to have stumbled upon a meteorite-hit site in western Rajasthan after they discovered quartz-like mineral that is similar to the one found near the famous Lonar crater lake in Maharashtra. The experts from the Indian Institute of Technology- Bombay detected occurrence of stishovite mineral in magnetic particles found in MokalsarSiwana way of the Siwana volcanic province in western Rajasthan.

"Such magnetic spherules, with 57 per cent of magnetite and 37 per cent haematite and with insignificant rare earth element (REE) content have been reported recently from a wide variety of geological formations and Recent Alluvium," Prof D Chandrashekhram of IIT-Bombay told PTI over phone. The stishovite discovered in the Siwana volcanic province of western Rajasthan is somewhat similar to the Lonar crater and formed by a series of meteor or asteroid impact, he said.

The structure has huge rings which the experts say makes it geologically unusual in the terrains of Rajasthan. "There is a huge ring structure in the stishovite which we call the Siwana rings and has been formed due to meteoric impact," he said.

These Siwana rings are "unique" in terms of geographic location, geological relations in the vicinity of the structure, distinctive shape and surface sculptures, Chandrashekaram said.