Articles tagged with Quartz
Researchers found five stages of silicic acid formation in fossilised wood, spanning 200 million years and documenting temperature, pressure, and composition conditions. The study uses quartz cathodoluminescence, fluid inclusions, and other techniques to reconstruct the geological history of the Saale Basin in central Germany.
Researchers from the University of Tokyo have verified the impact of neutron radiation on concrete expansion, finding a 'flux effect' that reduces degradation. This discovery may allow nuclear power plants to operate more safely over longer periods.
Researchers from Göttingen University identified the low crystallisation temperatures and groundwater origin of amethyst geodes in northern Uruguay. The study proposes a new model explaining their formation, which could improve exploration techniques and lead to sustainable mining strategies.
Researchers have developed a method to trap solar energy at temperatures over 1,000°C using synthetic quartz, demonstrating its potential for clean energy in carbon-intensive industries. The technology shows promise for industrial applications and could provide an economic viable alternative to fossil fuels.
Researchers analyzed whiteschist from the Dora Maira Massif to study rapid upward movements, revealing a sharp decrease in pressure or decompression. This suggests that UHP rocks may not have reached a depth of 120 kilometers before returning to the surface.
Workers cutting, grinding, and polishing artificial-stone slabs for countertops are developing silicosis due to high concentrations of silica and polymer resins. Researchers call for public health measures, including banning the product and improving worker safety.
Physicists have discovered that phonons, quasiparticles describing crystal lattice vibrations, can exhibit chirality - a fundamental concept with implications for material properties. Using circular X-ray light, researchers observed corkscrew motions of phonons in quartz, revealing the phenomenon of chiral phonons.
Researchers from China and Singapore study the radiative properties of polyamide-12, a common marine microplastic pollutant. They found that most of the incident radiation is scattered by PA12 particles, affecting ocean light transmission and marine ecology.
Scientists at the University of Jena have solved a decades-long puzzle by studying quartz samples under extreme pressure. They discovered that characteristic lamellae, which are often used to detect asteroid impacts, form when quartz transforms into a more tightly packed phase under high pressure.
Scientists have identified two-million-year-old DNA fragments in northern Greenland's Ice Age sediment, providing insights into the past ecosystem and its potential to predict climate change. The discovery has sparked hopes that it could help academics build a picture of the DNA evolution of species still in existence today.
Exposure to common workplace agents is associated with a heightened risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, which can be exacerbated by smoking and genetic predisposition. The study found that certain agents, such as quartz dust and gasoline fumes, are strongly linked to an increased risk of ACPA-positive disease.
Researchers develop a new way to manufacture high-efficiency diffraction gratings using reactive ion-plasma etching, achieving near-theoretical unpolarized diffraction efficiency of 94.3%. The process enables robust and durable gratings suitable for harsh environments.
Researchers studied the Temagami BIF rock formation to understand the early Earth's interaction between ocean, continent and atmosphere. They found oxygen-producing organisms on landmasses 2.7 billion years ago, 200 million years before the Great Oxidation Event.
Researchers aim to eliminate respirable coal mine dust toxicity with chemical additives, targeting ultrafine particles and quartz. The project will investigate particle surface chemistry and aging effects on toxicity, with potential applications in metal, non-metal mining, and construction.
Researchers at C-Crete Technologies have developed a method that utilizes deep learning to quickly predict and design novel hybrid organic-inorganic materials, offering improved materials design for various industries. By feeding quantum mechanics calculations to layered machine learning based on artificial neural networks, they can un...
The ancient Maya created a water filtration system nearly 2,000 years ago, using crystalline quartz and zeolite to remove harmful microbes and toxins from drinking water. This innovative system would still be effective today.
Scientists have discovered a novel disordered crystalline phase of silica that forms under dynamic shock compression, challenging longstanding assumptions about the material's behavior. The findings provide new insights into planetary formation and evolution, and may reveal details about the Earth's geologic history.
Researchers have developed nanostructures modeled on moth eyes that exhibit anti-icing properties, with the addition of a paraffin layer improving their performance. The nanostructure showed great improvement in freezing time and water repellency, making it suitable for applications such as aircraft wings and energy transmission systems.
Researchers found that some desert mosses in the Mojave Desert grow under translucent quartz pebbles, using them as natural sunshades to retain moisture and reduce heat. This unique adaptation allows these mosses to thrive in extremely dry conditions.
A recent study by University of Bonn researchers suggests that a massive tsunami struck the coast of Oman around 1,000 years ago, with waves reaching up to 15 meters high. The findings emphasize the importance of developing an effective early warning system for the region to mitigate devastating consequences.
Researchers developed a novel method using quartz and feldspar grains from the Parnaíba River in Brazil's Northeast region. The analysis reveals significant differences in luminescence between samples from headwaters and lower reaches of the river, reflecting changes in precipitation patterns over the past 30,000 years.
Researchers developed a laser-driven photoacoustic microfluidic pump that moves fluids in any direction without mechanical parts or electrical contacts. The device uses a plasmonic quartz plate implanted with gold atoms to generate an ultrasonic wave, driving the fluid via acoustic streaming.
Computational study simulates CO2 reacting with rock surfaces to form carbonate minerals, revealing a stable method of long-term carbon storage. The findings suggest that 'mineral trapping' can be used for carbon storage and provide insights into the chemistry of CO2 mineralization.
Researchers discovered that specific pentagonal and hexagonal molecular building blocks can self-sort through geometric complementarity. This phenomenon allows for the creation of nanostructures with predictable geometries, such as tubular structures with pentagonal pores.
Researchers found quartz in a primitive meteorite, providing evidence of silica condensation within the solar protoplanetary disk. The discovery helps understand solar formation and evolution.
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.
A team of scientists has discovered that Yosemite granite minerals crystallized at lower temperatures than previously thought, challenging our understanding of how granites form and record the planet's history. This finding has significant implications for geoscientists studying the Earth's crust formation and volcanic processes.
New research reveals granite crystallizes at 500 degrees Celsius, nearly 200 degrees lower than the prevailing accepted crystallization temperature. This finding impacts our understanding of molten rock at depth in the Earth's crust, influencing predictions for economically important ore deposits and active magmatic centers.
Researchers have developed a forming technology that allows for the structuring of quartz glass like a polymer, opening up new opportunities for the glass processing industry and various fields such as optics, data technology, and medical engineering. The process involves mixing small glass particles with a liquid polymer and then hard...
Research shows that water-bearing minerals release water underneath geologic hot spots, lubricating earthquakes and fueling volcanoes. A new spectroscopy technique applied to garnet containing fragments of quartz reveals the source of water, contradicting conventional thermodynamic equations.
Scientists from Ural Federal University and the University of Limerick proved that lysozyme exhibits piezoelectric properties, generating electric charges that can power pacemakers and stimulate nerve endings. This discovery has implications for various biomedical applications, including biosensors for disease detection.
Researchers matched microscopic quartz grains to their desert source using cathodeluminescence spectral analysis. This method revealed the heterogeneity in grains, shedding light on the pathways and effects of long-distance airborne dust.
Researchers at Rice University have created a novel filter that can remove toxic heavy metals from contaminated water, using a combination of carbon nanotubes and quartz fibers. The filters are reusable and can be washed with vinegar, making them an effective solution for treating water in remote regions.
Scientists at Uppsala University reveal the secret behind massive volcanic eruptions, discovering chemical clues in quartz crystals that hint at magma assimilating a local rock rich in water, leading to increased gas pressure and catastrophic eruptions.
A new study suggests that super-eruptions can be predicted with a year's warning due to the growth of quartz crystals on their surface. The research found that most rim growth times are less than one year, indicating a one-year warning period before an eruption occurs.
Researchers successfully replicated a range of fault slip modes found during earthquakes, quiet periods and slow earthquakes. They used ground quartz and a machine to apply pressure and alter stresses, revealing the forces behind slow earthquake mechanisms.
Researchers at Indiana University and Virginia Tech develop a method to assess the validity of the principle of detailed balance, widely used in models for environmental projects. The study confirms that the principle applies in systems where rates of forward and reverse processes are balanced.
Fault slip during the 2005 Sumatra earthquake was stopped by the topography on the downgoing plate, with a 3-km high region strengthening the plate boundary and preventing rupture propagation. This finding is supported by seismic reflection data that mapped the shape of the downgoing plate across a long-lived segment boundary.
Researchers developed a new 'geospeedometer' to measure the time between magma formation and eruption, finding that super-eruptions can occur within 500 years. The technique is based on analyzing quartz crystals found in magma bodies and provides an independent estimate of the duration of magmatic conditions.
Researchers from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology discover how laser pulse filamentation affects preliminary transition of a beam passing through quartz glass. The study has implications for nonlinear optics and may lead to new applications.
Researchers developed a new calibration technique for thermoluminescence dating, improving accuracy to within 1% using oxygen and lithium ions. The method employs a pulsed ion beam and a combination of detectors to replicate natural radiation exposure.
Researchers have developed a method to stabilize microwave signals using laser beams as references, potentially replacing quartz crystals. This new technique, called electro-optical frequency division, enables stabilization of high-frequency signals with smaller devices, outperforming current electronic technology in some cases.
A cluster of 12 unusual stones was discovered in a prehistoric rock-shelter near Boquete, Panama, dating back to 4,000 years ago. The cache is believed to have been used by a shaman or healer for ritual practices.
The study found that quartz particles can remove pieces of tooth enamel at extremely low forces, making them a significant contributor to dental microwear. In contrast, fossilized plant remains had a minor effect on tooth surfaces, leaving only cosmetic rubbing marks.
Researchers found fossilized fungal hyphae in subseafloor Eocene basalts, suggesting a non-prokaryotic biosphere. This discovery has implications for our understanding of the deep subseafloor environment.
Scientists have found that quartz plays a crucial role in initiating the viscous cycle of plate tectonics, which drives the formation of mountains and earthquakes. The research uses seismic data to measure the effects of temperature, water, and quartz on rock flow properties.
A new chemical analysis technique developed by NIST uses quartz crystal microbalances to test the purity of small material samples. This technique measures reaction energy needed to decompose or oxidize a sample with heat, offering a more sensitive approach than conventional methods, enabling analysis of nanoparticles and thin films.
A new dating method has found Peking Man to be around 680,000-780,000 years old, pushing back its age by 200,000 years. The site's analysis revealed evidence that Homo erectus had adapted to the cold environment of a mild glacial period.
MIT scientists have developed a new rocket called the Mini-Helicon Plasma Thruster, which runs on inexpensive gases and could slash fuel consumption by 10 times that of conventional systems. The propulsion system uses electrical energy to accelerate propellant, providing thrust for spacecraft maneuvers.
Studies revealed that people's brains respond differently to unfairness, with the orbital frontal cortex reacting to giving and the insula processing inequity. The findings suggest that a basic impulse to be fair is hardwired in humans, driven by emotional responses.
New research suggests two well-known crystal skulls, one in the British Museum and the Smithsonian Institution, did not come from ancient Mexico. The British skull was made in 19th century Europe, while the American one was created shortly before it was bought in Mexico City in 1960.
Researchers have successfully grown aligned and straight single-walled carbon nanotubes in large numbers using a quartz surface as a template. The achievement marks a significant step forward for the development of nano-scale electronics, which could enable the creation of ultra-tiny chips with improved performance.
NIST nanowires have high Q factors, indicating stable vibrations, making them suitable as oscillators in nano-electromechanical systems. The wires' flat surfaces and material properties reduce noise and increase heat capacity.
A team of geologists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute used a new technique to determine that a massive injection of hot magma likely triggered the eruption. The study sheds light on what causes large-scale volcanic eruptions and could help predict future eruptions.
Researchers at NIST have developed a new method to rapidly assess the quality of carbon nanotubes by spraying coatings onto a quartz crystal, measuring resonant frequency changes to detect mass variations and gauge consistency among samples. The new technique outperforms standard analytic methods in speed and sample analysis.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology has developed a new set of Standard Reference Materials to improve workplace safety by accurately measuring respirable quartz dust. These materials cover the range between 5 micrograms and 1000 micrograms of quartz per filter, typical of the field's range.
Researchers have discovered that ancient Chinese craftsmen used diamond to polish sapphire-rich stones around 2500 BC, creating a mirror-like luster on the axes. The find sheds new light on the origins of Neolithic artifacts in China and challenges current understanding of prehistoric polishing techniques.
A 125-mile-wide crater off Australia's coast has been linked to the Great Dying, a period when 90% of marine life and 80% of land life became extinct. Researchers found evidence of shock quartz and melt layers in ancient cores drilled by oil companies, matching the timeline of the end-Permian era.
Scientists discovered that plants can thrive under quartz rocks, possibly mirroring ancient life on early Earth. The study found that sunlight filtering through the rocks provides a greenhouse effect, keeping plants warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
Tiger's eye was previously thought to be an example of pseudomorphism, but researchers have found that the stone's shimmering appearance is actually caused by the presence of crocidolite fibers. The discovery challenges a long-held theory on the formation of tiger's eye and provides new insights into its structure.