Christopher Shaffer reports that the mineral world is ever-expanding. More than 5,200 minerals have already been discovered, 100-150 new minerals are registered every year, and scientists estimate there are at least 1,500 more to be found. The latest addition is Nataliyamalikite, discovered in far-east Russia by scientists from Monash University. Professor Joël Brugger explains the significance of this discovery:
“The discovery of this new mineral means we will be able to better understand how metals are extracted from deep-seated sources within our planet, and concentrated at shallow levels to form economic ore deposits. This will give us a unique insight into the processes responsible for the geochemical evolution of our planet. And this understanding is required to sustain mining – a key to Australia’s ongoing economic prosperity.”
Of all the new minerals found each year, the International Mineralogical Association awards one especially distinctive mineral the title of Mineral of the Year. The 2016 winner was Merelaniite. According to an article on Inside Science, under magnification Merelaniite appears to have tiny black hairs inside its crevices. Merelaniite was discovered by a high school student interning at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum and after five years of research, an international team was able to definitively categorize those “hairs” as a new mineral. Merelaniite is made primarily of alternating layers of molybdenum disulfide and lead sulfide.
Original URL: https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/mining/xrd-helps-characterize-new-minerals/
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