Researchers have made a significant discovery in the field of geology, uncovering three new minerals never before recognized by scientists. These minerals – raydemarkite, virgilluethite, and stunorthropite – are just one of 5,998 known minerals on Earth, but their existence is a notable find for geologists.
Each mineral has distinct characteristics, with raydemarkite appearing as a colorless, needle-like substance measuring around 1 millimeter long. It also exhibits flexibility without breaking. Virgilluethite is more yellow and green in color and forms in thin plates that grow larger than surrounding crystals. Stunorthropite boasts a milky appearance, often replacing the yellow mineral sidwillite.
The discovery of these minerals has sparked interest among researchers, particularly those involved in the International Mineralogical Association’s Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature, and Classification. This organization handles around 100 proposals for new mineral discoveries each year. While some may only exist at a single location, such findings provide valuable insights into their formation.
The discovery of these minerals is significant not only because they have been found in the wild but also because laboratory synthesis has confirmed their existence over a century ago. However, it is this natural occurrence that provides researchers with more data to work with and raises questions about how they behave differently in various environments.
The findings were published in two papers featured in The Canadian Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology, offering new avenues for research into the potential applications of these minerals, such as sensors and batteries.
Source: https://bgr.com/science/researchers-found-three-minerals-never-before-catalogued-on-earth