The mineral - named Wassonite - was found in the meteorite officially designated Yamato 691 enstatite chondrite by NASA and co-researchers in the US, South Korea and Japan using NASAs transmission electron microscope. Wassonite is among the tiniest yet important mineral found in the 4.5 billion year old sample, thought to originate from an asteroid orbiting between Mars and Jupiter. It has been added to the list of 4,500 minerals officially approved by the International Mineralogical Association. Read more
Scientists Find New Type of Mineral in Historic Meteorite
NASA and co-researchers from the United States, South Korea and Japan have found a new mineral named "Wassonite" in one of the most historically significant meteorites recovered in Antarctica in December 1969 Read more
Title: Petrochemical study of the Yamato-691 enstatite chondrite (EH3) I: Major element chemical compositions of chondrules and inclusions Authors: Ikeda, Yukio
Scientists Find New Type Of Mineral In Historic Meteorite
NASA and co-researchers from the United States, South Korea and Japan have found a new mineral named "Wassonite" in one of the most historically significant meteorites recovered in Antarctica in December 1969. The new mineral was discovered within the meteorite officially designated Yamato 691 enstatite chondrite. The meteorite was discovered the same year as other landmark meteorites Allende and Murchison and the return of the first Apollo lunar samples. The study of meteorites helps define our understanding of the formation and history of the solar system. Read more