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Researchers have discovered for the first time in the rocks of our planet a very rare mineral, previously only present in extraterrestrial meteorites, and it is present in a sedimentary formation not far from the shores of the Dead Sea. small iron meteorites have been found in the Bolshoi Dolguchan River in eastern Yakutia, Russia.
According to the “RT” website, a sample of the fragments later revealed the presence of a new mineral structure that occurs when thin layers of crystals are dispersed in the mixture of plistite meteorites.
Later, alabogdanite was also found in other meteorites, suggesting that the rare mineral may not be as exclusive as one thinks.
However, it now appears that alabogdanite also has earthly origins that we have never known.
In a new study, scientists report the discovery of alabogdanite in the Negev Desert, located southwest of the Dead Sea.
“The discovery of a high pressure (Fe, Ni) 2P polymorph, ‘alapogdanite’, in the surface pyromorphic rocks of the Hatrrim Formation surrounding the Dead Sea basin, is the first event to occur” says a team of researchers led by crystallographer Sergey Pritvin, from St. My Earth is a mineral that has only been found in iron meteorites.
Researchers say that while the Dead Sea alapogdanite did not come from outer space, it is still possible – perhaps – that it arose from some kind of alien event.
Analysis of the Hatrurim sample indicates that this terrestrial “alapogdanite” only forms at extremely high pressures: over 25 GPa.
“Such high pressures can be reached on Earth during catastrophic collisions with a large meteorite impactor, or under Earth mantle conditions, at depths over 500 km,” explains Pritvin.
However, given that there is no evidence of a major meteorite impact in the region, nor any sign that the rocks in the mottled region have deep connections to the Earth’s mantle – it is not clear exactly how the Earthly “alapogdanite” appeared.
The team concluded that until we can find another source of this unusual mineral on Earth, it is difficult to say more.
The researchers explain, “Therefore, the origin of terrestrial ‘alapogdanite’ in the rocks of the Speckled Region is still unsolved, and this adds to the number of mineral mysteries for this unusual metamorphic compound.”
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