New mineral discovered in meteorite
APR 06, 2011
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.025197
Space.com : Yesterday researchers announced the discovery of a new mineral, Wassonite, found in a 4.5-billion-year-old meteorite discovered in Antarctica in 1969. “Wassonite is a mineral formed from only two elements, sulfur and titanium, yet it possesses a unique crystal structure that has not been previously observed in nature,” NASA space scientist Keiko Nakamura-Messenger said in a statement. The mineral’s name honors John T. Wasson, a UCLA professor known for his achievements across a broad swath of meteorite and impact research. Meteorites may contain information about the formation of our solar system.
© 2011 American Institute of Physics
