The minerals were found inside a slice of the El Ali meteorite, which landed in Somalia in 2020.

The 2.5-ounce slice which contains the two brand-new minerals. (Image credit: University of Alberta Meteorite Collection)

Two minerals that have never been seen before on Earth have been discovered inside a massive meteorite in Somalia. They could hold important clues to how asteroids form.

The two brand new minerals were found inside a single 2.5 ounce (70 gram) slice taken from the 16.5 ton (15 metric tons) El Ali meteorite, which crashed to Earth in 2020. Scientists named the minerals elaliite after the meteor and elkinstantonite after Lindy Elkins-Tanton(opens in new tab), the managing director of the Arizona State University Interplanetary Initiative and principal investigator of NASA’s upcoming Psyche mission, which will send a probe to investigate the mineral-rich Psyche asteroid for evidence of how our solar system’s planets formed.

“Whenever you find a new mineral, it means that the actual geological conditions, the chemistry of the rock, was different than what’s been found before,” Chris Herd(opens in new tab), a professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Alberta, said in a statement(opens in new tab). “That’s what makes this exciting: In this particular meteorite you have two officially described minerals that are new to science.”

The researchers classified El Ali as an Iron IAB complex meteorite, a type made of meteoric iron flecked with tiny chunks of silicates. While investigating the meteorite slice, details of the new minerals caught the scientists’ attention. By comparing the minerals with versions of them that had been previously synthesized in a lab, they were able to rapidly identify them as newly recorded in nature.

The researchers plan to investigate the meteorites further in order to understand the conditions under which their parent asteroid formed. “That’s my expertise — how you tease out the geologic processes and the geologic history of the asteroid this rock was once part of,” Herd said. “I never thought I’d be involved in describing brand new minerals just by virtue of working on a meteorite.”

The team is also looking into material science applications of the minerals.

However, future scientific insights from the El Ali meteorite could be in peril. The meteorite has now been moved to China in search of a potential buyer, which could limit researchers’ access to the space rock for investigation.

https://www.livescience.com/two-new-minerals-found-inside-meteorite

El Ali 4°17.281’N, 44°53.893’E
Hiiraan, Somalia
Find: 2020 Sept
Classification: Iron meteorite (IAB complex)

History: (Global Resources, Ltd., C. Herd, UAb): The rock was lying on top of the soil in a limestone valley rich in groundwater, with thickets of vegetation on which the camels forage. The rock was known by the finders in the field as “Nightfall.” The local herders near El Ali report that they had knowledge of this rock for more than 5-7 generations memorialized through Saar folklore, songs, dances and poems. There were no other debris in the surrounding area. It was partially immersed in sand but looked different from the rocks that the finders were used to seeing in the area. The prospectors’ curiosity was piqued when they hit the boulder with a hammer. With a sledgehammer and cold chisel they laboriously removed a 90 g sample in situ and sent it to Nairobi, Kenya for XRF analysis. That revealed Fe, Ni, Mg, Co and Al percentages of 44.28, 44.97, 5.54, 1.80 and 1.40, respectively (on a presumably a weathered surface). The sample was then divided: a single ~70 g piece was split, with 19.23 g sent to N. Gessler and 54.3 g and 15.0 g sent to C. Herd, for characterization, the latter facilitated by Abdirashid Mohamed (Minnesota, USA). The stone was subsequently moved for safekeeping. (N. Gessler, Duke): The 19.23 g specimen was received on January 6, 2021, along with 6 photographs and 2 videos. The specimen was polished, and etched, showing the Widmanstaetten pattern. XRF analyses were obtained from SA Recycling, Los Angeles. The sample was then cut, with a 7.76 g slice sent to UCLA and a 9.00 g slice (plus 2.53 g of cutting slurry) sent to T. Jull, UAz, for characterization. A larger sample of 1-2 kg was later detached by the finders with an angle grinder after the stone had arrived in Mogadishu for storage. Additional documentation, including 4 photos and 3 videos, one of each of the meteorite in situ were provided by Omar Abdishakur, Director of Communication and Marketing, Kureym Mining and Rock Co. (Abdulkadir Abiikar Hussein, Almaas U): The tiny town called El Ali (Ceel Cali) is the center of camel herding communities called Derisamo. Herders visit El Ali to quench their livestock and themselves. About 15 km northwest of El Ali the camel herders knew of the rock that appeared to be metallic and used it as an anvil on which to sharpen their knives. The same countryside is rich in opal. In September 2019, artisanal miners from Kureym Mining and Rocks Company, hunting for opal, recognized the curious stone as a meteorite and sent a piece to Kenya for XRF confirmation. Numerous fragments are reported to be laying in the vicinity and scattered in the nearby region. In August 2020 they loaded and moved the stone to Mogadishu. The story of this strange rock spread everywhere and the government intervened. The truck and “large heavy rock” were taken into custody by national security officers. A. Abiikar Hussein was called on by the Ministry of Minerals and Petroleum to investigate the rock. Kureym Mining and Rock Co. supplied their XRF. A. Abiikar Hussein provided 6 photos, as well as the results of his measurement of the lengths, widths and heights at different places, and an estimated weight of 16,800 kg. He then recommended that the government purchase and conserve it for the numerous stakeholders in Somalia. The government released it to the miners where it is warehoused near the airport for sale.”

Peak Warming Man said:

El Ali 4°17.281’N, 44°53.893’E
Hiiraan, Somalia
Find: 2020 Sept
Classification: Iron meteorite (IAB complex)

History: (Global Resources, Ltd., C. Herd, UAb): The rock was lying on top of the soil in a limestone valley rich in groundwater, with thickets of vegetation on which the camels forage. The rock was known by the finders in the field as “Nightfall.” The local herders near El Ali report that they had knowledge of this rock for more than 5-7 generations memorialized through Saar folklore, songs, dances and poems. There were no other debris in the surrounding area. It was partially immersed in sand but looked different from the rocks that the finders were used to seeing in the area. The prospectors’ curiosity was piqued when they hit the boulder with a hammer. With a sledgehammer and cold chisel they laboriously removed a 90 g sample in situ and sent it to Nairobi, Kenya for XRF analysis. That revealed Fe, Ni, Mg, Co and Al percentages of 44.28, 44.97, 5.54, 1.80 and 1.40, respectively (on a presumably a weathered surface). The sample was then divided: a single ~70 g piece was split, with 19.23 g sent to N. Gessler and 54.3 g and 15.0 g sent to C. Herd, for characterization, the latter facilitated by Abdirashid Mohamed (Minnesota, USA). The stone was subsequently moved for safekeeping. (N. Gessler, Duke): The 19.23 g specimen was received on January 6, 2021, along with 6 photographs and 2 videos. The specimen was polished, and etched, showing the Widmanstaetten pattern. XRF analyses were obtained from SA Recycling, Los Angeles. The sample was then cut, with a 7.76 g slice sent to UCLA and a 9.00 g slice (plus 2.53 g of cutting slurry) sent to T. Jull, UAz, for characterization. A larger sample of 1-2 kg was later detached by the finders with an angle grinder after the stone had arrived in Mogadishu for storage. Additional documentation, including 4 photos and 3 videos, one of each of the meteorite in situ were provided by Omar Abdishakur, Director of Communication and Marketing, Kureym Mining and Rock Co. (Abdulkadir Abiikar Hussein, Almaas U): The tiny town called El Ali (Ceel Cali) is the center of camel herding communities called Derisamo. Herders visit El Ali to quench their livestock and themselves. About 15 km northwest of El Ali the camel herders knew of the rock that appeared to be metallic and used it as an anvil on which to sharpen their knives. The same countryside is rich in opal. In September 2019, artisanal miners from Kureym Mining and Rocks Company, hunting for opal, recognized the curious stone as a meteorite and sent a piece to Kenya for XRF confirmation. Numerous fragments are reported to be laying in the vicinity and scattered in the nearby region. In August 2020 they loaded and moved the stone to Mogadishu. The story of this strange rock spread everywhere and the government intervened. The truck and “large heavy rock” were taken into custody by national security officers. A. Abiikar Hussein was called on by the Ministry of Minerals and Petroleum to investigate the rock. Kureym Mining and Rock Co. supplied their XRF. A. Abiikar Hussein provided 6 photos, as well as the results of his measurement of the lengths, widths and heights at different places, and an estimated weight of 16,800 kg. He then recommended that the government purchase and conserve it for the numerous stakeholders in Somalia. The government released it to the miners where it is warehoused near the airport for sale.”

ever heard of preview and formatting? Go away and redo that post so it is readable.

JudgeMental said:

Peak Warming Man said:

El Ali 4°17.281’N, 44°53.893’E
Hiiraan, Somalia
Find: 2020 Sept
Classification: Iron meteorite (IAB complex)

History: (Global Resources, Ltd., C. Herd, UAb): The rock was lying on top of the soil in a limestone valley rich in groundwater, with thickets of vegetation on which the camels forage. The rock was known by the finders in the field as “Nightfall.” The local herders near El Ali report that they had knowledge of this rock for more than 5-7 generations memorialized through Saar folklore, songs, dances and poems.

There were no other debris in the surrounding area. It was partially immersed in sand but looked different from the rocks that the finders were used to seeing in the area. The prospectors’ curiosity was piqued when they hit the boulder with a hammer. With a sledgehammer and cold chisel they laboriously removed a 90 g sample in situ and sent it to Nairobi, Kenya for XRF analysis.

That revealed Fe, Ni, Mg, Co and Al percentages of 44.28, 44.97, 5.54, 1.80 and 1.40, respectively (on a presumably a weathered surface). The sample was then divided: a single ~70 g piece was split, with 19.23 g sent to N. Gessler and 54.3 g and 15.0 g sent to C. Herd, for characterization, the latter facilitated by Abdirashid Mohamed (Minnesota, USA).

The stone was subsequently moved for safekeeping. (N. Gessler, Duke): The 19.23 g specimen was received on January 6, 2021, along with 6 photographs and 2 videos. The specimen was polished, and etched, showing the Widmanstaetten pattern. XRF analyses were obtained from SA Recycling, Los Angeles. The sample was then cut, with a 7.76 g slice sent to UCLA and a 9.00 g slice (plus 2.53 g of cutting slurry) sent to T. Jull, UAz, for characterization.

A larger sample of 1-2 kg was later detached by the finders with an angle grinder after the stone had arrived in Mogadishu for storage. Additional documentation, including 4 photos and 3 videos, one of each of the meteorite in situ were provided by Omar Abdishakur, Director of Communication and Marketing, Kureym Mining and Rock Co.

(Abdulkadir Abiikar Hussein, Almaas U): The tiny town called El Ali (Ceel Cali) is the center of camel herding communities called Derisamo. Herders visit El Ali to quench their livestock and themselves. About 15 km northwest of El Ali the camel herders knew of the rock that appeared to be metallic and used it as an anvil on which to sharpen their knives. The same countryside is rich in opal. In September 2019, artisanal miners from Kureym Mining and Rocks Company, hunting for opal, recognized the curious stone as a meteorite and sent a piece to Kenya for XRF confirmation.

Numerous fragments are reported to be laying in the vicinity and scattered in the nearby region. In August 2020 they loaded and moved the stone to Mogadishu. The story of this strange rock spread everywhere and the government intervened. The truck and “large heavy rock” were taken into custody by national security officers. A. Abiikar Hussein was called on by the Ministry of Minerals and Petroleum to investigate the rock. Kureym Mining and Rock Co. supplied their XRF. A. Abiikar Hussein provided 6 photos, as well as the results of his measurement of the lengths, widths and heights at different places, and an estimated weight of 16,800 kg. He then recommended that the government purchase and conserve it for the numerous stakeholders in Somalia. The government released it to the miners where it is warehoused near the airport for sale.”

ever heard of preview and formatting? Go away and redo that post so it is readable.

fixed.

JudgeMental said:

JudgeMental said:

Peak Warming Man said:

El Ali 4°17.281’N, 44°53.893’E
Hiiraan, Somalia
Find: 2020 Sept
Classification: Iron meteorite (IAB complex)

History: (Global Resources, Ltd., C. Herd, UAb): The rock was lying on top of the soil in a limestone valley rich in groundwater, with thickets of vegetation on which the camels forage. The rock was known by the finders in the field as “Nightfall.” The local herders near El Ali report that they had knowledge of this rock for more than 5-7 generations memorialized through Saar folklore, songs, dances and poems.

There were no other debris in the surrounding area. It was partially immersed in sand but looked different from the rocks that the finders were used to seeing in the area. The prospectors’ curiosity was piqued when they hit the boulder with a hammer. With a sledgehammer and cold chisel they laboriously removed a 90 g sample in situ and sent it to Nairobi, Kenya for XRF analysis.

That revealed Fe, Ni, Mg, Co and Al percentages of 44.28, 44.97, 5.54, 1.80 and 1.40, respectively (on a presumably a weathered surface). The sample was then divided: a single ~70 g piece was split, with 19.23 g sent to N. Gessler and 54.3 g and 15.0 g sent to C. Herd, for characterization, the latter facilitated by Abdirashid Mohamed (Minnesota, USA).

The stone was subsequently moved for safekeeping. (N. Gessler, Duke): The 19.23 g specimen was received on January 6, 2021, along with 6 photographs and 2 videos. The specimen was polished, and etched, showing the Widmanstaetten pattern. XRF analyses were obtained from SA Recycling, Los Angeles. The sample was then cut, with a 7.76 g slice sent to UCLA and a 9.00 g slice (plus 2.53 g of cutting slurry) sent to T. Jull, UAz, for characterization.

A larger sample of 1-2 kg was later detached by the finders with an angle grinder after the stone had arrived in Mogadishu for storage. Additional documentation, including 4 photos and 3 videos, one of each of the meteorite in situ were provided by Omar Abdishakur, Director of Communication and Marketing, Kureym Mining and Rock Co.

(Abdulkadir Abiikar Hussein, Almaas U): The tiny town called El Ali (Ceel Cali) is the center of camel herding communities called Derisamo. Herders visit El Ali to quench their livestock and themselves. About 15 km northwest of El Ali the camel herders knew of the rock that appeared to be metallic and used it as an anvil on which to sharpen their knives. The same countryside is rich in opal. In September 2019, artisanal miners from Kureym Mining and Rocks Company, hunting for opal, recognized the curious stone as a meteorite and sent a piece to Kenya for XRF confirmation.

Numerous fragments are reported to be laying in the vicinity and scattered in the nearby region. In August 2020 they loaded and moved the stone to Mogadishu. The story of this strange rock spread everywhere and the government intervened. The truck and “large heavy rock” were taken into custody by national security officers. A. Abiikar Hussein was called on by the Ministry of Minerals and Petroleum to investigate the rock. Kureym Mining and Rock Co. supplied their XRF. A. Abiikar Hussein provided 6 photos, as well as the results of his measurement of the lengths, widths and heights at different places, and an estimated weight of 16,800 kg. He then recommended that the government purchase and conserve it for the numerous stakeholders in Somalia. The government released it to the miners where it is warehoused near the airport for sale.”

ever heard of preview and formatting? Go away and redo that post so it is readable.

fixed.

No worries.

PermeateFree said:

The minerals were found inside a slice of the El Ali meteorite, which landed in Somalia in 2020.

The 2.5-ounce slice which contains the two brand-new minerals. (Image credit: University of Alberta Meteorite Collection)

Two minerals that have never been seen before on Earth have been discovered inside a massive meteorite in Somalia. They could hold important clues to how asteroids form.

The two brand new minerals were found inside a single 2.5 ounce (70 gram) slice taken from the 16.5 ton (15 metric tons) El Ali meteorite, which crashed to Earth in 2020. Scientists named the minerals elaliite after the meteor and elkinstantonite after Lindy Elkins-Tanton(opens in new tab), the managing director of the Arizona State University Interplanetary Initiative and principal investigator of NASA’s upcoming Psyche mission, which will send a probe to investigate the mineral-rich Psyche asteroid for evidence of how our solar system’s planets formed.

“Whenever you find a new mineral, it means that the actual geological conditions, the chemistry of the rock, was different than what’s been found before,” Chris Herd(opens in new tab), a professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Alberta, said in a statement(opens in new tab). “That’s what makes this exciting: In this particular meteorite you have two officially described minerals that are new to science.”

The researchers classified El Ali as an Iron IAB complex meteorite, a type made of meteoric iron flecked with tiny chunks of silicates. While investigating the meteorite slice, details of the new minerals caught the scientists’ attention. By comparing the minerals with versions of them that had been previously synthesized in a lab, they were able to rapidly identify them as newly recorded in nature.

The researchers plan to investigate the meteorites further in order to understand the conditions under which their parent asteroid formed. “That’s my expertise — how you tease out the geologic processes and the geologic history of the asteroid this rock was once part of,” Herd said. “I never thought I’d be involved in describing brand new minerals just by virtue of working on a meteorite.”

The team is also looking into material science applications of the minerals.

However, future scientific insights from the El Ali meteorite could be in peril. The meteorite has now been moved to China in search of a potential buyer, which could limit researchers’ access to the space rock for investigation.

https://www.livescience.com/two-new-minerals-found-inside-meteorite

It would be good if they’d included the formulae, or at least the classification, for these two minerals.

Also I’m having difficulty finding detailed references for this meteorite. Given that is one of the biggest ever known, and supposedly touched down in 2020, I’d have expected better coverage.

PWM is onto it. The LiveScience article is just wrong. The meteorite didn’t crash in 2020. Might have come down hundreds of years ago.

dv said:

PWM is onto it. The LiveScience article is just wrong. The meteorite didn’t crash in 2020. Might have come down hundreds of years ago.

Having something known about, but not recorded is different to when discovered and officially recorded, which looks to be the case here and validated in official documentation.

https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/metbull.php?code=74444

PermeateFree said:

dv said:

PWM is onto it. The LiveScience article is just wrong. The meteorite didn’t crash in 2020. Might have come down hundreds of years ago.

Having something known about, but not recorded is different to when discovered and officially recorded, which looks to be the case here and validated in official documentation.

https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/metbull.php?code=74444

And if you are interested there are heaps of reports on the Net.

PermeateFree said:

PermeateFree said:

dv said:

PWM is onto it. The LiveScience article is just wrong. The meteorite didn’t crash in 2020. Might have come down hundreds of years ago.

Having something known about, but not recorded is different to when discovered and officially recorded, which looks to be the case here and validated in official documentation.

https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/metbull.php?code=74444

And if you are interested there are heaps of reports on the Net.

There are. My point was that the article specified that this was a meteor that crashed down in 2020: there are no reports on that event, because it didn’t happen. The journalist messes up.

dv said:

PermeateFree said:

PermeateFree said:

Having something known about, but not recorded is different to when discovered and officially recorded, which looks to be the case here and validated in official documentation.

https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/metbull.php?code=74444

And if you are interested there are heaps of reports on the Net.

There are. My point was that the article specified that this was a meteor that crashed down in 2020: there are no reports on that event, because it didn’t happen. The journalist messes up.

It is RECORDED as 2020, yes, the Jounalist got that bit wrong by following the official record too closely, but the story was not about when the meteorite landed, but its contents of 2 unknown minerals. I think you are being over critical.

PermeateFree said:

dv said:

PermeateFree said:

And if you are interested there are heaps of reports on the Net.

There are. My point was that the article specified that this was a meteor that crashed down in 2020: there are no reports on that event, because it didn’t happen. The journalist messes up.

It is RECORDED as 2020, yes, the Jounalist got that bit wrong by following the official record too closely, but the story was not about when the meteorite landed, but its contents of 2 unknown minerals. I think you are being over critical.

Well maybe.

seriously come on peops, what’s a few years between engineers in geologic time sheesh

PermeateFree said:

dv said:

PermeateFree said:

And if you are interested there are heaps of reports on the Net.

There are. My point was that the article specified that this was a meteor that crashed down in 2020: there are no reports on that event, because it didn’t happen. The journalist messes up.

It is RECORDED as 2020, yes, the Jounalist got that bit wrong by following the official record too closely, but the story was not about when the meteorite landed, but its contents of 2 unknown minerals. I think you are being over critical.

would have been quite a sight when it came in. and a tad noisy as well no doubt.

JudgeMental said:

PermeateFree said:

dv said:

There are. My point was that the article specified that this was a meteor that crashed down in 2020: there are no reports on that event, because it didn’t happen. The journalist messes up.

It is RECORDED as 2020, yes, the Jounalist got that bit wrong by following the official record too closely, but the story was not about when the meteorite landed, but its contents of 2 unknown minerals. I think you are being over critical.

would have been quite a sight when it came in. and a tad noisy as well no doubt.

and no doubt a big hole too.

Good find.

mollwollfumble said:

Good find.

Thanks.

Spiny Norman said:

mollwollfumble said:

Good find.

Thanks.

Rofl

https://www.ualberta.ca/institute-for-space-science-exploration-and-technology/symposium2022/index.html

Here is a talk on the topic from the Space Exploration Symposium 2022 (U of Alberta Institute for Space Science Exploration and Technology).

(Go down to Monday 21 November, 15:50)

Both minerals are iron, phosphorus, oxygen compounds that have previously been synthesised in the laboratory but not observed in nature.

dv said:

https://www.ualberta.ca/institute-for-space-science-exploration-and-technology/symposium2022/index.html

Here is a talk on the topic from the Space Exploration Symposium 2022 (U of Alberta Institute for Space Science Exploration and Technology).

(Go down to Monday 21 November, 15:50)

Both minerals are iron, phosphorus, oxygen compounds that have previously been synthesised in the laboratory but not observed in nature.

Yes, it says that in the article.