Scientists have discovered fragments from an extremely rare meteorite strike that took place above Germany earlier this month.

Experts from Munster said they are 'delighted' to recover several fragments identified as being of the 'LL Chondritenklasse' (LL chondrite) class of meteorite - mostly stone with very little metal inside.

The latest fragments, which struck the earth in the municipality of Stubenberg in Bavaria, are already being studied excitedly by experts, who anticipate more fragments will still turn up.

Experts from Munster said they are 'delighted' to recover several fragments identified as being of the 'LL Chondritenklasse' (LL chondrite) class of meteorite - mostly stone with very little metal inside. This image shows how the meteorite looks under the polarising microscope

The fireball was spotted over Bavaria on 6 March.

Meteorite expert Professor Dr Addi Bischoff from the Institute for Planetary Studies at the University of Munster (WWU) said: 'Alert sky watchers spotted the meteorites burning into the atmosphere on 6 March.

'By analysing images of the entry, we were able to locate the impact point and find fragments on the ground, in total weighing 40g.

'What we have found so far from studying the fragments indicates that the main body of the meteorite had been struck several times by other celestial objects.

'The fragment that came into our atmosphere had probably broken off from the main body of the meteorite after one of these collisions.

By analysing images of the entry, researchers were able to locate the impact point and find fragments on the ground, in total weighing 40g (pictured centre). The fragment that came into our atmosphere had probably broken off from the main body of the meteorite after colliding with 'other celestial objects'

The fireball was spotted over Bavaria on 6 March (pictured). In Germany, experts say a meteorite actually strikes the ground only once every eight years or so, with the previous time happening at Braunschweig - also known as Brunswick - in 2013 and before that at Neuschwanstein in 2002

METEORITES HOLD SECRETS FROM FORMATION OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM A unique meteorite which has provided researchers with answers to questions about the dynamics in our early solar system, 4.5 billion years ago. The finding puts an end to a debate that has been raging for 35 years, and gives us a deepened understanding of how our solar system was made. It also helps to, more generally, study the process of how stars make elements. The element Curium does not occur naturally on earth. It was first produced and identified in July 1944 by a team of scientists at Berkley, California. But new evidence shows the rare element could have been found 4.5 billion years ago when our solar system formed. Most elements in the universe were formed in the high-pressure cores of stars, or during a star's violent death. The materials found in a meteorite, nicknamed 'Curious Marie' by researchers, sheds new light on the way that elements are formed in stars. In particular, it suggests that all heavy radioactive isotopes could have been formed at the same time. Advertisement

'The main body of the asteroid is one of hundreds of thousands of asteroids travelling on a route between Mars and Jupiter.'

Although hundreds of meteorites come into the Earth's atmosphere to create shooting stars, most of these burn up before they get anywhere near the ground.

Very occasionally, however, meteorites make it all the way to the ground.

In Germany, experts say a meteorite actually strikes the ground only once every eight years or so, with the last time happening at Braunschweig - also known as Brunswick - in 2013 and before that at Neuschwanstein in 2002.

Dr Bischoff said strikes were extremely rare in Germany and added: 'In the last seven years, there has been one striking the ground on average every eight years.'

And he added that none of these were spectacular as the one which struck Chelyabinsk in Russia in 2013 that left hundreds of people injured with its explosive impact.

It is likely that the fragment may also be worth a substantial amount of money.

Earlier this week it was announced that a collection of some of the largest chunks of meteorite to have been found on the Earth to go on sale at auction for an estimated £3.4 million.

Among the 83 space rocks is the only meteoroid that has killed and a chunk of the fireball which tore through the skies over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk in 2013, hospitalising 112 people.

Some of the scorched chunks of iron and stone look primeval in their appearance while others have an almost jewel-like beauty despite their fiery descent through the atmosphere.

A collection of rare and unusual meteroites are to go on sale at auction next month. A half-tonne shield-shaped piece of iron-laced rock (pictured) is expected to sell for more than £800,000 and is the most expensive item in the collection

A half tonne shield-shaped stone is the most expensive piece and is valued at £800,000.

Another piece item in the auction is the Valeria meteorite, which caused the only documented fatality due to a falling space rock when it killed a cow in 1972.

There is also a chance to own fragments of Mars and the Moon which were chipped off by ancient meteorite impacts, sending them showering towards Earth.

While some of the meteorites have been collected relatively recently, others were discovered hundreds of years ago.

Also on sale is a piece of the meteorite that exploded over Chelyabinsk in 2013 (pictured left). It is expected to sell for more than £300,000

A metallic space rock (pictured left) that is described as evoking Evard Munch's painting The Scream (pictured right) has been given an estimated value of £250,000

In the description for some particularly unusual metallic-looking space rock, auctioneers have described it as 'an otherworldly evocation' of Edvard Munch's famous Scream painting.

The meteorites are due to go under the hammer at auctioneers Christies in London on 20 April.

James Hyslop, head of the sale and science specialist, said: 'These meteors give you a sense of wonder, as seeing something extraterrestrial is always very strange.

Slices of some of the meteorites reveal their almost jewel-like beauty. While the outside of the space rocks are often scorched during their fiery descent through the atmosphere and weathered while on Earth, their interiors hold a surprising array of minerals. The one pictured above is valued at £3,000

Some of the smaller meteorites have unusual shapes, like this one that resembles an animal. It is valued at around £1,000

'When you see these objects you realise they have this scientific and philosophical profoundity and scientists have found many of these have significantly come from Mars and the Moon.

'It's a strange thing to hold a piece of another planet or a rock from space as for most of us it is the closet we can get to being there.

'Obviously these pieces appeal to science and natural historians and many of the meteorites would be perfect in a museum, but they are also desirable to the art world as they are natural sculptures.

The lump of rock pictured above is actually a piece of Mars that was chipped off the planet and sent spinning towards Earth. As these meteorites are rare, it is expected to sell for more than £450,000

Fragments of meteorite from the Moon are also to be included in the sale, like this cross section, which is expected to sell for around £25,000

'We have launched this specialist sale as it really is the second golden age of meteorite collecting after the first wave of popularity at the turn of last Century.

'There are buyers all over the world. Some of them want to admire the beauty, others like the history and some people just want to hold a piece of another planet.'

A public viewing of the meteors will take place at Christie's on April 16 and the sale takes place four days later.