Articles tagged with Minerals
Researchers at Vienna University of Technology have explained the distribution of potassium ions on mica surfaces using an atomic force microscope in ultra-high vacuum. The study reveals tiny patterns of ion arrangement, which could improve electronic circuit performance and make mica a suitable insulator for 2D materials.
Researchers utilized the James Webb Space Telescope to observe dense interstellar clouds, revealing a treasure trove of pristine ices from the early universe. The study provides new insights into chemical processes in one of the coldest places in the universe, offering clues on molecular origins and sulfur storage.
The Martian meteorite Tissint has revealed a rich inventory of organic compounds, offering insights into Mars' habitability. The study, published in Science Advances, discovered an unprecedented diversity of organic molecules, including magnesium compounds not previously seen on the planet.
Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis found that manganese oxides can be formed without atmospheric oxygen under Mars-like conditions. The study, published in Nature Geoscience, used kinetic modeling to show that halogens like chlorate and bromate can convert manganese into minerals thousands of times faster than by oxygen.
A new study suggests that an orbiting space probe could provide definitive answers about the presence of life on Enceladus' ocean. The team mapped out how a hypothetical mission could gather data from the moon's plumes, which are thought to contain organic molecules and methane.
A team of researchers suggests a global mineral supply agreement to ensure green energy infrastructure development. The US, with its current metal shortage, particularly relies on China for mineral supplies, which could hinder the green transition.
University of Central Florida researchers have discovered a method that uses microwaves to melt lunar soil, coupled with beneficiation technology, may be the best option for building safe and economical lunar landing pads. This approach could increase microwave absorption by up to 80% using magnetic fields, making it more energy-effici...
A gold coin long dismissed as a forgery appears to be authentic and depicts Emperor Sponsian, who ruled Roman Dacia during civil wars. The study used scientific analysis to confirm the coin's authenticity, shedding light on Sponsian's history.
Researchers estimate that opening protected areas to mining would lead to the destruction of 183 km² of forest and further loss of 7,626 km² due to infrastructure construction. The study highlights the need for strategic planning and environmental impact assessments before making changes to conservation policies.
A joint study by TAU and Hebrew University accurately dated 21 destruction layers at 17 archaeological sites in Israel, using geomagnetic field reconstruction. The new data verify Biblical accounts of Egyptian, Aramean, Assyrian, and Babylonian military campaigns against the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
A team of researchers led by Goethe University Frankfurt analyzed a diamond from Botswana, revealing significant amounts of water stored in the transition zone. The discovery has far-reaching consequences for the dynamic situation inside the Earth, potentially altering global material circulation.
Researchers from Trinity College Dublin created synthetic rocks to study rare earth element formation. The study reveals that fluids containing REEs replace common limestone via complex reactions, shedding light on the mechanisms of rock formation and industrial separation processes.
A team of researchers has discovered 1.2-billion-year-old groundwater containing radiogenic helium, neon, and xenon, which could sustain subsurface microbial communities. The study reveals how energy stored in the Earth's subsurface can be released and distributed through its crust.
Curtin researchers have found evidence of an almost four billion-year-old piece of the Earth's crust beneath Western Australia. The discovery was made by firing lasers at tiny grains of a mineral extracted from beach sand, revealing its geological history and influencing the region's evolution.
Researchers at The University of Queensland have discovered a method to date calcite trapped in ancient ocean floors, which could aid in sourcing critical minerals for electric cars and solar panels. This breakthrough could help meet the growing demand for renewable energy technologies.
A study published in Cell Reports Physical Sciences has measured the physical limits for liquid water in icy extraterrestrial worlds. The results show that cold, salty liquids can remain liquid at much cooler temperatures than previously thought, extending the range of possible habitats on icy moons.
A massive volcanic eruption at the end of the Triassic period caused a global cooling effect, leading to the mass extinction. The event paved the way for the rise of dinosaurs as their natural predators went extinct.
Scientists propose a new mechanism by which oxygen accumulated in the atmosphere, shifting the planet out of its low-oxygen equilibrium. Interactions between certain marine microbes and minerals in ocean sediments may have prevented oxygen consumption, setting off a self-amplifying process.
The Bushveld Complex functioned as a gigantic magma body, with a column of melt likely several km thick, contradicting the prevailing theory of non-existent large, long-lived and largely molten magma chambers. This discovery was made possible by 3D high-resolution X-ray computed tomography studies of chromitite.
Researchers used geochemical data from 225 hot springs to create a detailed map of the boundary between the Indian and Asian continental plates, revealing processes occurring deep below the surface. The findings suggest that an old theory about the flat position of the Indian plate beneath Tibet is no longer tenable.
Researchers have discovered a surprisingly soft mineral, davemaoite, that plays a crucial role in the Earth's recycling of rocks. The study suggests that davemaoite is around 1,000 times softer than other minerals in the mantle, and its mechanical properties can help explain how earthquakes and volcanoes occur.
Researchers have measured deformation of mineral davemaoite under conditions inside the Earth's mantle, finding it to be surprisingly soft. This discovery challenges previous ideas about subducting slabs in the lower mantle, suggesting a detachment of crust from the underlying plate can occur.
Researchers have developed a new method to study ancient grains of sand, revealing details of the Earth's distant geological past. The 'age distribution fingerprint' of zircon minerals sheds light on the evolution of continents and the accumulation of mineral resources.
A team of researchers used advanced dating techniques to determine that the subduction of continental material occurred after the obduction of the Samail Ophiolite, contradicting previous estimates. The study provides new insights into subduction zones and their formation.
Researchers found evidence of high-intensity damage caused by asteroid impact in a Martian meteorite, challenging previous findings on early Mars habitability. The discovery provides new insights into dynamic processes that affected the young planet's surface.
Researchers at MIT developed a selective separation process using sulfidation to target rare metals like cobalt in lithium-ion batteries. The approach reduces energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional liquid-based separation methods.
A new study suggests that clay minerals like smectite could store the missing water on Mars. Researchers found that iron-rich smectite can form at depths of up to 30 km, making it a potential reservoir for the planet's lost water.
A new study published in Nature Communications reveals chemical heterogeneities in Apollo 17 sample troctolite 76535, indicating an early rapid cooling of the Moon. This finding challenges previous estimates of a 100-million-year cooling duration and supports initial rapid cooling of magmas within the lunar crust.
A new nanotechnology developed by Penn State researchers selectively recovers neodymium and other rare earth elements from electronic waste using plant cellulose. The process is environmentally friendly and can separate neodymium in seconds, making it a sustainable solution for recycling.
A team of scientists has identified a new force behind the past mass extinction event, finding that volcano eruptions produced a 'volcanic winter' that drastically lowered earth's temperatures. This change added to the environmental effects resulting from other phenomena at the time.
Researchers from UNLV have discovered a new mineral, davemaoite, which originated between 410-560 miles deep within the Earth's lower mantle. The calcium silicate compound was trapped in a diamond and preserved due to its incredible strength, making it possible for scientists to study its structure.
Researchers found that borosilicate glass was crucial for synthesizing amino acids and other prebiotic organic compounds. The study suggests that the emergence of life on Earth may be more abiotic than previously thought.
Researchers have identified a quantum phase transition in ferropericlase, a mineral abundant in the lower mantle. The study, published in Nature Communications, confirms earlier predictions and suggests this phenomenon may increase tectonic events like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Scientists recreated Titan's conditions, studying properties of organic molecules ACN and PCN on the moon's surface. The findings could provide insights into Titan's surface cracking and confirm its mineral composition.
Researchers at MLU and Brazilian University of Pará create climate-friendly cement alternative by replacing limestone with Belterra clay, a previously unused overburden from bauxite mining. The new cement is just as stable as traditional Portland cement and reduces CO2 emissions during production.
Scientists have found evidence of hydrohematite, an iron oxide mineral containing water, in Martian rocks. This discovery suggests that Mars may have once had a watery environment and could hold a significant water reserve.
Researchers found that even in hydrated subducting slabs, dry olivine can exist, resolving a long-standing paradox. This discovery suggests hydrous minerals play crucial roles in the Earth's interior water cycle and contribute to deep-focus earthquakes and large plate deformations.
Penn State is leading a $1.2 million project, CANARY, to assess and catalog northern Appalachian-basin critical mineral resources and waste streams. The project aims to extract valuable materials from coal waste, promoting regional growth and addressing national security needs.
A new study suggests that early Earth's hotter mantle could have stored more water than today, leading to a larger global ocean. The findings challenge previous assumptions about the size of the ocean and offer clues to its evolution over time.
Researchers used lab tools to mimic extreme conditions, redefining the conditions under which carbonates can exist in the Earth's lower mantle. The study expands our understanding of the deep carbon cycle and the Earth's evolution.
Compressive stresses in the lithosphere induce grain mixing and damage, generating vertical weak bands that facilitate subduction initiation. These weak zones are susceptible to bending associated with subduction and may provide insight into plate tectonics on Earth.
Scientists propose that widespread semiconducting minerals can absorb sunlight and drive reduction reactions similar to those in biological photosynthesis. These minerals may have played a transformative role throughout primitive Earth, driving the evolution of early lifeforms.
Al-phase D mineral discovered to transport and host water up to 1200 km in lower mantle, improving stability against pressure and temperature. Researchers measured sound velocities and density of Al-phase D using synchrotron X-ray techniques, providing clear understanding of seismic velocities of hydrous rocks.
Researchers have discovered a new high-pressure mineral in the lunar meteorite Oued Awlitis 001, which is composed of calcium, aluminum, and silicon atoms. The newly found mineral donwilhelmsite forms at depths of 460-700 kilometers and has relevance for understanding subducted terrestrial sediments
Researchers from Far Eastern Federal University have improved a processing technology for monazite concentrate, increasing the extraction of thorium and rare earth elements. This new method provides a more eco-friendly nuclear fuel cycle with reduced waste accumulation and increased reactor lifespan.
Researchers discovered that sodium and potassium make rare earth elements soluble, allowing for better predictions of their concentrations. This breakthrough could lead to new discoveries of neodymium and dysprosium deposits, essential for digital and clean energy manufacturing.
SwRI scientists studied the color, reflectivity, age, composition, origin and distribution of materials on asteroid Bennu's surface. The mission discovered carbon-bearing compounds and minerals containing or formed by water, which will help determine the scenarios that best explain Bennu's surface composition.
Researchers discovered that helium ions can heal radiation-damaged monazite, a mineral that always remains moderately damaged. This unusual property has significant implications for Earth sciences research and experiments with synthetic minerals.
A team of scientists at MIT and elsewhere has determined that a family of oddball meteorites likely came from an early planetesimal with a magnetic core. The discovery suggests that the diversity of the earliest objects in the solar system may have been more complex than previously thought.
Researchers found remnants of bridgmanite in large type IIb diamonds, suggesting they formed at depths of over 660 km. This confirms predictions that both the Hope and Cullinan diamonds are super-deep, originating from more than three times deeper in the Earth's mantle
Researchers discovered new variants of feldspar stable under extreme pressure conditions, potentially altering seismologic signatures and plate dynamics. The high-pressure polymorphs were formed through severe geometrical distortions in the tetrahedral framework.
Researchers discovered an oxygen-excess phase in the mid-mantle that contains more oxygen than hematite. This new phase could have long-termly oxidized the shallow mantle and crust, influencing global habitability.
Researchers have found that excess minerals in these rocks originate from feeder conduits, where magma interacts with cold sidewalls and crystallises. This approach has great promise for solving petrological problems of magmatic complexes.
Scientists identify two meteorites containing minerals with superconducting properties, shedding light on the potential for natural superconductivity in space. The discovery could help explain the formation of magnetic fields in celestial objects.
Geologists from Wits University have found a mechanism that generates melts saturated in plagioclase alone, leading to the formation of monomineralic layers. These unique rock formations are common in layered intrusions worldwide and hold significant value for glass fibre manufacturing.
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.
The USGS report evaluates the global supply of and US demand for 52 mineral commodities between 2007 and 2016, identifying those posing the greatest supply risk. The top-risk minerals include rare earth elements, cobalt, niobium, and tungsten, which are crucial for mobile devices, renewable energy, aerospace, and defense applications.
Researchers discovered a new aluminium hydroxide phase that remains stable at pressures exceeding the Earth's mantle. This finding suggests water can be stored in these hydroxides within deep Earth environments, terrestrial super-Earths, and icy planet cores.
University of Queensland scientists have identified a new reference material and used a state-of-the-art instrument to better date rock formations in central Asia. This new method could help establish the relationship between historical episodes of magma activity and mineral accumulation.
The West Virginia Water Research Institute will scale up its Rare Earth Recovery Project with the new funding, which includes building a facility at an acid mine drainage treatment plant near Mount Storm. The project aims to extract rare earth elements from coal and coal byproducts, reducing dependence on China.