Search for Strange Matter by Heavy Ion Activation

We present the results of an experimental search for stable strange matter using the heavy ion technique, based on properties of strangelets. We studied samples of a meteorite, terrestrial nickel ore, and lunar soil. Our search improved by 2 to 3 orders of magnitude the existing experimental limit on the strange matter content in normal matter and enabled probing the flux of low mass strangelets on the lunar surface for the first time.p {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}