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We generally have a fairly solid knowledge of the types of materials present in the earth's crust, but despite centuries of study, our planet sometimes makes a turnaround in research. For a PhD student from the University of Alberta, this curveball took the form of a mineral never before seen nestled in a diamond on a volcanic site in South Africa.
Nicole Meyer and a team of researchers were the first to identify the ore now called Goldschmidtite, a strange combination of elements that could give insight into the inner workings of the Earth's mantle.
The first documented sample of Goldschmidtite, named after the legendary geochemist Victor Moritz Goldschmidt, was found sealed inside a diamond at a volcanic dig site called Koffiefontein Mine. The elements that make up the mineral make it a real oddity.
"Goldschmidtite contains high concentrations of niobium, potassium and rare earth elements, lanthanum and cerium, while the rest of the mantle is dominated by other elements, such as magnesium and iron," wrote Meyer, first author of a new study published in American Mineralogist. , has explained.
Studying materials deep within the Earth's mantle is incredibly difficult. We can only dig so deeply, which means that researchers have to walk the surface to find clues about the processes taking place far below our feet. Diamond inclusions – a material that is enclosed inside a diamond when it is formed – can provide an exciting look at what is unfolding deep within the planet.
"Goldschmidtite is very unusual for inclusion captured by a diamond and gives us insight into the fluid processes that affect the deep roots of the continents during diamond formation," said Graham Pearson, co-supervisor of the team. .
The discovery may pose more questions than answers, but it's all part of the game when you're trying to unlock the secrets of the Earth.
Image Source: Nicole Meyer
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