Scientists have discovered two minerals never before seen on Earth inside a massive meteorite in Somalia that might hold important clues regarding how asteroids formed.
The two new minerals were found inside a single 70-gm piece taken from the “El Ali” meteorite, which collided with Earth in 2020, and weighed 16.5 tons (15 metric tons).
And according to the “Live Science” website concerned with scientific affairs and its publication, Chris Hurd, a professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Alberta, said: “When you find a new mineral, it means that the actual geological conditions, the chemistry of the rocks, were different from what was found.” Before, which is what makes it so exciting in this particular meteorite you have two minerals formally described, which are new to science.”
