(Photo:University of Alberta)
Space is full of rocks.
These shooting stars are meteors.
Most are obliterated before they come close to the surface of Earth, but a few survive the fall.
A slice of the El Ali meteorite, now housed in the University of Alberta’s Meteorite Collection, contains two minerals never before seen on Earth. (Photo:University of Alberta)
These rocks which hit Earth are known as meteorites, and they are a scientist’s dream.
Meteorites provide hints to the chemical composition of the universe.
It was found near El Ali, a town in the Hiiraan region of Somalia.
The Hoba meteorite in Namibia, the largest intact meteorite known. (Photo:Wikimedia Commons,CC BY-SA 3.0)
Herd began to decipher the meteorites composition.
Despite other similar meteorites being studied, this small slice of rock contained two previously unknown minerals.
Minerals are elements or compounds which form the building blocks of rocks.
Think of quartz or feldspar, which are both common minerals.
Yet the two new minerals discovered are not naturally occurring on our planet.
A third mineral is also possibly a new pop in, but more investigation is needed to confirm this.
Andrew Locock, head of the Universitys Electron Microprobe Laboratory, aided Herd in identifying the new minerals.
The compounds have been named elaliite and elkinstantonite.
So it made sense to name a mineral after her and recognize her contributions to science, Herd explains.
However, investigations will continue into this small piece and other meteorite materials held by the university.
The Hoba meteorite in Namibia, the largest intact meteorite known.
(Photo:Wikimedia Commons,CC BY-SA 3.0)
