Researchers analyzed cores from the Basque Mud Patch to determine sedimentation rates and detect environmental contamination. The study found that metals and contaminants accumulate at an approximate rate of one millimeter per year, highlighting human activity's impact on the coastal area.
Scientists propose that asteroids Bennu and Ryugu were formed directly as spinning-top shapes due to a collision, with their equatorial craters ruling out recent re-shaping. The team's computer simulations suggest two possible explanations for the different hydration levels of the two bodies.
A study by the University of the Basque Country reveals 12 former coastlines under the sea off the Basque coast, formed due to major climate changes and fluctuations in sea levels. The researchers used advanced technology to create 3D maps of the seabed, showing irregularly distributed rocky platforms that had not been predefined.
Research finds that ferropericlase transforms into superoxide when exposed to water at deep lower mantle conditions. The discovery suggests the lower mantle is locally oxidized where water is present, contrary to previous theories.
Researchers found that organic substances produced by decomposed vegetation cover on top of caves create the red coloration, which is linked to climate conditions. The study used various analysis techniques to identify these compounds and established a link between the red color and mid-Holocene climate changes.
A team of international researchers has provided a mineralogy lab study for water-rich exoplanets, revealing an unexpected new solid phase with silicon, hydrogen, and oxygen. The findings suggest that the distinction between water and rock layers in these planets may be 'fuzzy' at high pressure and temperature.
Scientists from the University of Cologne found that water, carbon, and nitrogen were delivered to Earth very late in its history, contradicting previous assumptions. The researchers used rare platinum metal isotope abundances to constrain the delivery time, suggesting a late veneer phase around 3.8 billion years ago.
Recent advancements in quantum mechanical computation enable precise predictions of complex minerals' stability, elasticity, and transport properties. These calculations reveal new insights into the Earth's deep interior, including post-perovskite phase boundaries and potential hydrous compounds.
Researchers find tiny iron crystals on asteroid Itokawa's surface, formed by space weathering and the release of iron from troilite minerals. The discovery provides insights into weathering processes on other celestial bodies and helps date asteroids.
The SEIS seismometer has measured over 174 probable 'Mars quakes', providing valuable data on the planet's composition. The analysis indicates a layer of rock 10 kilometres thick, with waves spreading at relatively slow speeds, suggesting fissured or chemically altered rock.
Researchers used quantum mechanical computations to study the thermal conductivity of postperovskite at lower mantle conditions. The study found a significant jump in thermal conductivity associated with phase transition, which affects heat flux across the core-mantle boundary.
Researchers used clumped isotope geochemistry to analyze fossilized clam shells and reconstruct ancient cooking techniques. The study found that the majority of clams were heated to temperatures greater than 100°C, but not greater than 200°C.
Researchers discovered an olivine-norite rock in the South Pole-Aitken basin, suggesting it crystallized from the impact-derived melt pool. The fine-grain texture of the rock supports fast cooling thermal conditions.
Researchers from Ruhr-University Bochum and University of Oxford studied a dripstone from India's Mawmluh Cave to reconstruct the Indian monsoon's past climate. They found the monsoon was less reliable 125,000 years ago, suggesting global warming may lead to similar changes.
Russian and French scientists confirm Karla crater is an impact structure through paleomagnetic, petromagnetic, and geochemical samples. The study was conducted by researchers from Kazan Federal University and CEREGE, France.
Scientists have developed a new method to overcome the limitations of astronomical time scales, allowing for the dating of geologic archives to be extended by about 8 million years. The study reveals that solar system chaos played a significant role in shaping Earth's climate during this period.
Scientists have recalculated the Moon's age to approximately 50 million years after solar system formation, based on hafnium-tungsten systematics from Apollo samples. This new estimate significantly differs from earlier research findings and sheds light on planetary evolution.
A global evolutionary regime shift around 170 million years ago changed the success of organisms living in the ocean. Biological factors such as predator-prey relationships became increasingly important after the emergence of calcium carbonate-secreting plankton, stabilizing ocean chemistry and enabling diverse marine life.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab's Advanced Light Source employ X-ray Laue microdiffraction to study tiny samples of promising candidate minerals. The technique successfully identifies ognitite, a newly discovered mineral with unique chemical properties.
A research team from the University of Cologne has recalculated the distribution of volatile elements on Earth, finding that some building blocks have a chemical composition similar to primitive meteorites. The study suggests an alternative source for vital components such as water and carbon.
A new classification system could better understand mineralogy as a process of universal and planetary evolution by accounting for minerals' distinct journeys. This system, proposed by Robert Hazen, groups minerals into natural kind clusters that reflect the inherent messiness of planetary evolution.
Scientists at the University of Bonn have identified two new dinosaur species in Thailand, both distant relatives of T. rex. The creatures were efficient predators with a more primitive structure than their tyrannosaur cousin.
Geoscientists have found evidence that material from the transition zone in Earth's mantle can percolate to the surface to form volcanoes. This discovery provides a new understanding of the relationship between the transition zone and volcanism, with implications for global geodynamics and the evolution of our planet.
A multidisciplinary study reveals that most ornithopod dinosaurs were young individuals with similar internal structures to unfossilized bones, while ankylosaurs showed various traces associated with specific groups. The research also found evidence of rapid burial, microbial activity, and a wetland ecosystem supporting a diverse fauna.
A team of researchers discovered a primitive class of meteorite containing a slice of carbon-rich material similar to extraterrestrial dust particles thought to have originated in comets near the outer edges of the Solar System. This finding provides insights into the Solar System's architecture and formation.
A tiny piece of a comet has been discovered inside a primitive meteorite, providing insights into the solar system's structure and evolution. The finding is significant as it reveals details about how our solar system took shape during its early stages.
Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf have developed a new procedure to optimize water usage in mineral beneficiation technology. By using process simulation, the team was able to significantly reduce water consumption, from 4,000 litres per tonne of ore to below 1,000 litres per tonne. This innovation has the potential t...
The study found that Martian rocks are less compacted and more porous than expected, with a grain density of 2810 kg/m³ versus 1680 kg/m³. This suggests that the rocks have been compressed less, possibly due to reduced material buried over time.
Scientists will investigate soil carbon formation, stabilization, and loss with a £1.8 million grant from the Natural Environment Research Council. The study aims to quantify increases in soil carbon storage that can mitigate climate change and improve global food security.
A team led by SwRI has concluded that Ceres' surface is rich in organic matter, containing several times more carbon than primitive meteorites found on Earth. The surface's unique mineralogy and rock-water interactions suggest a cold environment formation process.
Salinization affects biodiversity and water ecosystem functioning directly, but more baseline information is needed to predict its effects. The main causes of salinization in Spain include mining, agriculture, and regime changes in precipitations.
Scientists have found magnetic evidence of oxygenation in a paleolake, suggesting that most water column and history contained oxygen. The study analyzed drill cores from the Nonesuch Formation, revealing a gradient of oxygenation according to water depth.
Japanese researchers from Osaka University analyzed Hayabusa particles to determine the age of asteroid Itokawa, finding it formed 4.6 billion years ago and was destroyed 1.5 billion years later. The study used precise isotope analyses to clarify the chronology of the asteroid's evolution.
A team of scientists has found direct evidence for surface-exposed water ice on the Moon, with patchy distribution and smaller abundance compared to other planetary bodies. The discovery was made using data from the Moon Mineralogy Mapper onboard India's Chandrayaan-1 mission.
Researchers from MSU found evidence of CO<sub>2</sub>-rich fluids in graphite samples and fluid inclusions in quartz, suggesting the rocks formed through interaction with the Kaapvaal Craton. This discovery provides insights into the geological history of the Limpopo Complex and its potential for ore prospecting.
Scientists discovered spectacled cormorant fossils in Japan dating back 120,000 years, indicating the bird's previously believed limited range was incorrect. Climate changes and human activity may have contributed to the species' extinction, with more research needed on its biological aspects.
A new data-mining technique developed by Carnegie's Shaunna Morrison improves the understanding of Mars' geologic history and habitability. By analyzing mineral compositions and unit cell dimensions, scientists gained a more detailed picture of Martian minerals, including their origins and alteration processes.
A study by Brown University researchers maps the mineralogy of the South Pole-Aitken basin, a giant impact crater on the Moon's far side. The research identified four distinct mineralogical regions within and around the basin, providing insights for future lunar exploration and landing site selection.
Scientists have found that rocks rich in the mineral berthierine, a toxic to decay bacteria, are more likely to preserve soft tissue fossils. This discovery provides a mineralogical signature to find exceptional fossils and potentially supports the search for life on other planets.
Research reveals California mussel shells are becoming disordered and less organized due to escalating ocean acidification, impacting their structural integrity. The study suggests this variation may offer the species a glimmer of hope through increased variability in individual traits, potentially aiding natural selection.
A team of researchers from the University of Bonn has discovered a unique type of bony tissue called pneumosteum, which is found in birds and some dinosaurs. This discovery provides new insights into the evolution of their respiratory systems and opens up possibilities for studying extinct species.
A team of researchers used JUQUEEN supercomputer to simulate the structure of silicate glasses at ultra-high pressures, gaining insights into the Earth's formation and its impact on our surface. They found that oxygen atoms are more compressible than silicon atoms under high pressure, leading to different glass structures.
Geologists in Scotland have identified a 60-million-year-old meteorite strike on the Isle of Skye, revealing rare minerals from outer space. The discovery has sparked questions about the impact's connection to Paleogene volcanic activity across the North Atlantic.
The oldest plesiosaur, Rhaeticosaurus mertensi, was a strong swimmer with modified limbs and a short tail. It had a streamlined neck and powerful muscles to propel itself through the water.
The new center aims to restore temperature regimes in sedimentary basins using geochronology and thermochronology. This approach is expected to be effective and economical for companies searching for petroleum.
Researchers find evidence of gold particles in Antarctic xenoliths, tracing them to the deep mantle. The study suggests that the mantle's history and tectonic movements led to gold deposit formation.
New research from Oxford University sheds light on the formation of the Earth and its depletion of vital chemical elements. By simulating early Earth conditions, scientists found that melting and evaporation played a key role in shaping the planet's chemistry.
Scientists from Brown University have created a quantitative map of water and its chemical building blocks trapped in the uppermost portion of the Moon's soil. The study found that the signature of water is present nearly everywhere on the lunar surface, with concentrations reaching up to 500-750 parts per million at higher latitudes.
A groundbreaking study applies big data analysis to mineralogy, predicting the existence of 1,500 missing minerals and new deposits. The technique enables scientists to represent data from multiple variables on thousands of minerals in a single graph, revealing patterns of occurrence and distribution.
Researchers from the Universities of Cape Town and Bonn suggest that warm-bloodedness may have originated 20-30 million years ago in land animals. This is based on analysis of long-extinct animal fossils, which show signs of fibrolamellar bone structure indicative of warm-bloodedness.
Researchers from Russia and US collaborate on radiocarbon dating of ancient porcupine fossils, revealing a 40,000-year-old record in the Urals. The study shows thermophilic porcupines disappeared from the region around 27,000 years ago due to climate change.
Researchers have discovered that topaz granites are extremely enriched in lithium and have a high concentration of metals such as tin and tungsten. The study's findings may impact where to look for these metals across the region, particularly in Cornwall and Devon.
Researchers analyzed Lake Towuti sediment using visible-near infrared spectroscopy and found distinct variations in clay mineralogy over the past 40,000 years. This technique can help reconstruct ancient Martian climate history.
Researchers have identified three new uranium minerals, leesite, leószilárdite, and redcanyonite, found growing on the walls of old uranium mines in southern Utah. These minerals provide valuable insights into the chemistry and structure of uranyl compounds and their interactions with the environment.
Amélie Juhin, a physicist and spectroscopist, has been awarded the ESRF Young Scientist of the Year 2017 prize for her experimental and theoretical studies on resonant X-ray scattering and X-ray dichroism. Her research focuses on probing electronic and magnetic properties of nanoparticles and molecular magnets.
A landmark global scale study found that populations at the northern and southern range edges are most sensitive to ocean acidification, leading to reduced growth and genetic diversity. The research provides insights into how ocean acidification will shape species' distributions in the future.
Research reveals that large gem diamonds, like Cullinan and Lesotho Promise, formed from pure carbon crystalized in a pool of liquid metal. The study provides insights into deep Earth processes and oxygen availability in the mantle.
Researchers found evidence of a diaphragm-like structure in early pelycosaurs, dating back over 300 million years. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about the evolution of respiratory systems and warm-bloodedness.
A new study published in Meteoritics & Planetary Science reveals that mineral veins on Mars were formed by the evaporation of ancient lakes. The research, conducted by scientists from The Open University and University of Leicester, found that the fluids present in Martian Yellowknife Bay were habitable by Earth standards.
Researchers at McGill University found that two rare minerals, stepanovite and zhemchuzhnikovite, have the same structure as man-made MOFs. This discovery opens up new possibilities for using these materials in various applications such as hydrogen storage and carbon sequestration.