Articles tagged with Minerals
Scientists used high-pressure techniques to measure sound velocities of a key mineral in the Earth's mantle, shedding light on its composition and role in the lower mantle. The findings suggest that subducted oceanic crust plays a crucial role in explaining the magnitude of seismic velocity reductions at depths below 660 km.
A new high-pressure mineral, Maohokite, has been discovered and found to contain Fe3+, replacing the previously believed Fe2+, in the Earth's lower mantle. This discovery was made by researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and published in Meteoritics & Planetary Science.
Engineers used microscopic friction measurements to confirm that rocks can dissolve under certain conditions, causing faults to slip. The study found that brine-calcite interactions can induce dissolution and decrease frictional strength at the single-asperity scale.
Researchers found traces of fatty acids in Dorset's acidic streams, mimicking conditions on Mars billions of years ago. They believe these findings could indicate nearly 12,000 pools of organic matter on Mars that represent past life.
Researchers analyzed the Hypatia stone, a pebble found in Egypt, and discovered unique minerals that suggest it originated from pre-solar material. The stone contains polyaromatic hydrocarbons, metallic aluminum, phosphides, and moissanite, which are uncommon in our solar system.
Geologists can improve estimates of landscape erosion and sediment dispersal by accounting for factors like bedrock material erosion rates, zircon fertility, and sediment recycling. Researchers collected zircon grain samples from modern river watersheds in the Andes Mountains to test these assumptions.
High-pressure X-ray measurements reveal the formation of a new phase of kaolinite, a clay mineral containing aluminium, under conditions similar to those in subduction zones. The super-hydrated phase contains more water than any other known aluminosilicate mineral in the mantle.
Researchers used instrumented nanoindentation to measure olivine's strength, finding it weaker with larger diamond tips. The study resolves a long-standing debate on the mineral's strength and has implications for understanding plate tectonics and volcanic activity.
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 have mapped areas with high rare earth mineral resource potential within heavy mineral sands in the southeastern United States. The study suggests that a large percentage of these minerals are derived from specific Piedmont province rocks via coastal processes during Atlantic opening.
Researchers have published a detailed geological history for Northeast Syrtis Major, a region on Mars known for its striking mineral diversity. The study maps the extent of key mineral deposits across the surface and places them within the region's larger geological context. This work could help inform NASA's decision on potential land...
A team of scientists has discovered a rare sample of the mineral majorite, which originated at least 235 miles below Earth's surface. The discovery provides valuable insights into the dynamic processes occurring deep inside the Earth and its history, including the formation of mountain ranges that persist today.
A global research team warns of severe mineral supply constraints due to lack of international coordination on exploration investment efforts and geological data sharing. The shortage could lead to rising prices and critical shortages of essential resources, including technology minerals and base metals.
Scientists confirm that silica can form complex self-assembling mineral structures in natural alkaline waters. These 'biomorphs' resemble living organisms and may hold clues to the origins of life on Earth.
Researchers identify 208 minerals formed due to human activities, bolstering the argument for a new geological time interval. The vast majority of these minerals originated through mining and human industry since the mid-1700s, underscoring the immense impact of human activities on Earth's mineral diversity.
Researchers discovered minerals from 43 ancient meteorites, including rare and unknown types. This finding suggests a dramatically different solar system history, requiring a revision of current understanding. The study's results confirm a hypothesis presented last summer and show that the solar system is not stable over time.
A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that water is stored far deeper in the Earth than previously thought. Researchers estimate that water exists between 400 to 600 kilometers into the mantle, where it is transported through a high-pressure polymorph of brucite.
A pioneering study reveals how Songwe Hill Rare Earth Project in Malawi can enhance global security of critical earth elements. The research finds that hot fluids can cause heavy rare earth enrichment, creating a well-balanced deposit suitable for the growing magnetics industry.
A comprehensive five-year study will investigate the degradation of shale rock roofs in coal mines, with a focus on moisture-induced damage. The research aims to improve understanding of the science behind these failures, ultimately leading to safer mines and miners.
Researchers create high-pressure conditions to study the melting of forsterite, a mineral that makes up Earth's mantle. The experiments provide insight into how impact-generated magmas evolve and allow for modeling of Earth-type planets' inner structures.
The use of virtual rocks can archive samples for destructive testing, aid peer-review, and provide access to geological materials for disabled students. Virtual explorers can also enhance learning and retention after field trips.
Researchers found that basaltic rocks can effectively store carbon dioxide, a potential solution to mitigate climate change. By injecting CO2 into these rocks, the greenhouse gas is converted into stable carbonate minerals, reducing leakage risks.
Researchers developed a new method to calculate elasticity of minerals at high pressure and temperature, reducing computational loads by up to tenfold. This allows for the constraining of Earth's interior composition and temperature with increased precision.
Researchers studied the electrical conductivity of hydrous silicate minerals under controlled temperature and pressure to understand water distribution in the Earth's interior. The study found that dehydration and pressure effects significantly impact bulk conductivity, with implications for understanding subduction zones.
Researchers have discovered a magnetic signal in volcanic rocks from the Iberian Peninsula that suggests a massive rotation of almost 60º occurred 300 million years ago. This process, known as the Cantabrian orocline, helped shape the region's mountain ranges and curvature.
Scientists have inventoried and categorized all of Earth's rare mineral species, revealing clues about the planet's sub-surface conditions and past biological upheavals. The rarest minerals are found at five or fewer locations worldwide and offer insights into what an inter-planetary probe might find.
Scientists have found that rapid bubble formation in magma chambers may trigger sudden volcanic eruptions. This discovery could change the way volcanoes are monitored, focusing on changes in gas composition at the surface rather than seismic activity or ground deformation.
A global challenge is launched to discover new carbon-bearing minerals, with an estimated 145 yet-to-be-described minerals waiting discovery. Researchers believe most of these minerals will be hydrous carbonates, potentially making them challenging for collectors to find.
Researchers from Syracuse University found that atmospheric argon and neon are trapped in minerals formed at ultra-high pressure depths within the Earth's mantle. These findings indicate that noble gases can be recycled from the atmosphere into the deep Earth, and back to the surface again through a process known as forearc recycling.
Researchers analyzed Yellow River sediment to reconstruct global climate and topography history. They found that the Loess Plateau acts as a sink for Yellow River material eroded from the Tibetan plateau, contradicting previous expectations.
Research predicts Earth's mineralogy is unique in the cosmos, with over 1,500 undiscovered minerals, influenced by physical characteristics, geological activity, and biological processes.
A study published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters reveals new insights into the Earth's early core by analyzing the magnetic signatures of mineral grains in ancient rocks. The findings, led by Michigan Tech geophysicist Aleksey Smirnov, shed light on the planet's mysterious past.
New analysis reveals 'Apex chert microfossils' are not evidence of ancient life but rather peculiarly shaped minerals. Researchers used high-spatial resolution data to map chemical composition and morphology at the sub-micrometre scale, clearing up a long-standing debate about Earth's earliest fossils.
A new study by University of Utah researchers reveals the existence of an unknown layer inside Earth's lower mantle, where rock gets three times stiffer. This stiffness increase may explain why slabs of sinking tectonic plates stall and thicken at a depth of 930 miles underground.
Scientists have identified two key factors behind sudden tectonic plate movements, including the role of thick crustal plugs and weakened mineral grains. This discovery provides new insights into the evolution of plate tectonics and its impact on Earth's climate and biosphere.
Researchers studied a rare rock covered in small diamonds, speckles of garnet, and other minerals using X-ray machines to uncover its genesis. The findings suggest diamonds form at high temperatures and pressures, contradicting previous theories.
Researchers have identified Bridgmanite, a high-density magnesium iron silicate mineral, as the most abundant mineral in Earth. The discovery was made possible by non-destructive micro-focused X-rays and novel fast-readout area-detector techniques, which allowed for the characterization of natural Bridgmanite for the first time.
Researchers used a powerful microscope to study the birth of crystals in real time, revealing that calcium carbonate forms into different minerals through various pathways. This discovery may help scientists understand how to lock carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and better reconstruct ancient climates.
A team of researchers from Arizona State University has discovered a common mineral that can catalyze the breaking and making of carbon-hydrogen bonds in hydrothermal environments. This finding has significant implications for the Earth's deep carbon cycle, astrobiology, and Green Chemistry.
Researchers found rainwater can penetrate deep into the Earth's ductile crust, weakening rocks and initiating earthquakes. This discovery has significant implications for understanding earthquakes and the generation of valuable mineral deposits.
A University of Alberta team has discovered a water-rich mineral called ringwoodite, containing 1.5% water by weight, deep beneath the Earth's crust. This finding confirms scientific theories about massive volumes of water trapped between 410-660 km below the surface.
A new analysis of Hadean mineralogy suggests that no more than 420 different minerals were present at or near Earth's surface during the first 550 million years after life emerged. These minerals formed from magma and alteration, excluding rare elements such as borate and molybdate minerals.
The US is largely dependent on foreign sources for rare earth elements, a trend exacerbated by global demand. Dr. Lawrence Meinert highlights the need for domestic development and secure supply chains to mitigate disruptions.
The Consumer's Guide to Minerals explores minerals' diverse uses in scientific research, manufacturing, medicine, and commercial applications. The digital publication provides a comprehensive reference for professionals and students in the fields of applied science, geology, and economics.
Researchers from UC Riverside and international partners discover a new mineral, cubic boron nitride, named qingsongite, which has unique properties resembling those of diamond. Qingsongite was found in the southern Tibetan mountains under extreme conditions and has been officially approved by the International Mineralogical Association.
Geochemists at Brown University have discovered noble gases can dissolve in amphibole minerals, providing a potential mechanism for their recycling between the atmosphere and Earth's interior. This finding is significant as it sheds light on how other volatiles like water and carbon are cycled.
Researchers used the Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer to examine the role of water in single olivine crystals at the near-atomic scale. The study found that water has a much lower effect on the mechanical weakening of olivine, challenging earlier concepts about its lubricating properties.
Scientists discovered that foraminifera may be responsible for the decline of stromatolites and the emergence of thrombolites. The researchers found evidence of foraminifera in both types of structures, suggesting a possible link between their disappearance and appearance.
In some Earth's mantle regions, the movement of subducted plates stagnates due to slow diffusion and transformation of mineral components. High-pressure experiments revealed that exchange of elements between minerals slows down significantly at depths of 440-650 kilometers, leading to congestion.
New Laser Ablation ICP-MS technique identifies rutile-bearing rocks and reconstructs their thermal and pressure histories. This breakthrough enables faster analysis of tiny rutile grains, shedding light on geological processes.
A team of scientists analyzed 442 molybdenite samples to find that rhenium concentrations increased significantly over the past three billion years, reflecting increasing oxygen levels in the environment. The findings support previous research on hydrothermal activity and supercontinent formation influencing mineral evolution.
Researchers describe a new technique based on particle physics that could reveal the composition and characteristics of the deep Earth. The approach relies on a hypothetical fifth force of nature, which could help reconcile conflicting scientific lines of evidence.
Researchers found panguite, a titanium oxide mineral, in the Allende meteorite, which is considered one of the best-studied meteorites in history. The discovery sheds new light on the formation and evolution of the solar system.
Mineral evolution has led to at least 90 different mercury-containing minerals on Earth, mostly formed during three periods of supercontinent assembly. The creation of these minerals is linked to hydrothermal activity associated with continents colliding and forming mountain ranges.
New research from the British Geological Survey and MIT refines the data used to determine how much time has passed since a mineral or rock was formed. The results show that minerals naturally capture uranium when they form, which in turn undergoes radioactive decays to other elements, allowing for more accurate age determinations.
The study reveals that metal oxides interact with water in metastable states, rather than sequential transitional forms. This finding has implications for understanding corrosion and developing sustainable technologies like batteries and hydrogen fuel.
Researchers established diffusion parameters for argon in jarosite, allowing them to measure the age of the mineral and surface conditions. This discovery provides a roadmap for studying Martian samples brought back to Earth, with implications for searching for potential habitats harboring life.
The increasing demand for rare earth elements and critical minerals poses significant geopolitical challenges, threatening the global clean energy economy. The US, China, and other countries are exploring strategies to secure domestic supplies and mitigate supply risks.
Researchers found evidence of oceanic crust in ultra-deep diamonds, suggesting it can be transported from the lower to upper mantle via large-scale upwelling. The discovery provides new insights into the Earth's mantle recycling process.
Researchers analyzed over 4,000 mineral inclusions in diamonds to determine when the Wilson cycle of plate tectonics began. The study found that continents started breaking apart and colliding around three billion years ago, leading to the growth of the Earth's continental crust and the distribution of ores and materials.