IS THE STRONGLY PENETRATING COMPONENT A SIGN OF THE STRANGELET PASSAGE THROUGH MATTER

We investigate the possible connection between the very penetrating co mponent, frequently accompanying the cosmic-ray exotic phenomena, and the hypothesis of the formation of strangelets, in the process of stra ngeness distillation, being the last stage of the evolution of the qua rk matter droplet. We find that the many maxima long-range cascades ob served in the homogeneous lead emulsion chambers of the Pamir and Chac altaya experiments can be produced in the process of strangelet penetr ation through the apparatus.