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Scientists are curious about the discovery of two new minerals in Somalia’s massive El Ali meteorite because they have never been found on Earth. Photo/University of Alberta Meteorite Collection
The two new minerals were found in a single 70-gram slice taken from the 16.5-ton El Ali meteorite that crashed into Earth in 2020. Scientists have named the new minerals elaliite and elkinstantonite, after the El Ali meteorite. and the director’s name. the Arizona State University Lindy Elkins-Tanton Interplanetary Initiative.
“Every time you find a new mineral, it means a true geological picture of rock chemistry,” said Chris Herd, a professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Alberta, quoting SINDOnews from the Live Science page. , Tuesday (11/29/2022) ).
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Researchers classify El Ali as an IAB iron complex meteorite, a type made of meteoric iron speckled with small silicate pieces. While investigating a meteorite slice, new mineral details caught the attention of scientists.
“That’s what makes this discovery exciting. There are two officially described minerals in this particular meteorite that are new to science,” Herd said.
The researchers plan to investigate the meteorite further to understand the conditions under which the parent asteroid formed. “Especially the geological processes and geological history of the asteroids that were once part of this rock,” Herd said.
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The research team is also examining applications of materials science to minerals. However, future scientific insights from the El Ali meteorite may be under threat. The meteorite has now been moved to China in search of a potential buyer, which could limit researchers’ access to the space rock for investigation.
(wib)
