Exploraphones.com

Researchers Found Two New Minerals from El Ali Meteorite

Written by Reananda Hidayat Permono Completed Master of Science - MS, Petroleum Geology from Curtin University, Perth, Australia.

Research Scientist GIF

Research Scientist GIF

Scientists have identified two new minerals that don’t naturally form on Earth in a meteorite weighing 33,510 pounds (15.2 metric tonnes).

Scientist Lab GIF

Scientist Lab GIF

The meteorite was found in Somalia in 2020 and became the ninth-largest meteorite ever found.

Boisestate Thisisresearch GIF

Boisestate Thisisresearch GIF

The caretaker of the University of Alberta’s meteorite collection, Chris Herd, received the meteorite samples but couldn’t identify some parts of them.

Science Scientist GIF

Science Scientist GIF

Later, he did seek advice from the head of the university’s Electron Microprobe Laboratory, Andrew Locock.

Great Scott Great GIF

Great Scott Great GIF

On the first day of examining it, he said there were at least two new minerals in the sample. It was outstanding, as it usually takes a lot of work to claim there is a new mineral.

Scientist Kate Zax GIF

Scientist Kate Zax GIF

The first mineral is named elaliite, which comes from the meteorite’s name as it was discovered near El Ali Town in central Somalia.

Thinking Woman GIF

Thinking Woman GIF

The second one is called elkinstantonite, after the vice president of Arizona University’s Interplanetary Initiative name Lindy Elkins-Tanton.

Oakley Sciencedog GIF

Oakley Sciencedog GIF

She is also the principal investigator of the NASA Psyche mission - a journey to find an asteroid between Jupiter and Mars.

Science Science Talk GIF

Science Science Talk GIF

The International Mineralogical Association gave approval for the two new minerals and indicated the work is robust.

Science Experiment GIF

Science Experiment GIF

Finding a new mineral is exciting as it indicates the different chemistry of the rock and geological conditions.

Idea Brainy GIF

Idea Brainy GIF

Two new minerals from the El Ali meteorite are phosphates of iron.

Designed by Alexander Rabu

Happy Scientist GIF

Happy Scientist GIF