Vaterite:

A rare form of calcium carbonate, was recently found in plants for the first time by scientists at Sainsbury Laboratory

at Cambridge University. Rarely encountered on earth, Vaterite crystals can appear in the silvery-white protective

crust over alpine plants, freshwater crustaceans and, weirdly, the inner ears of salmon, among precious few other

locations. This scarce mineral is of interest to the pharmaceutical industry as its unique properties make it an

enhanced medication carrier. It could help limit the side-effects of some drugs, such as cancer treatments.

http://www.mineriamexico.com/a-year-of-discoveries-the-newest-minerals-on-earth/

Rich ore deposits linked to ancient atmosphere

Much of our planet's mineral wealth was deposited billions of years ago when Earth's chemical cycles were different

from today's. Using geochemical clues from rocks nearly 3 billion years old, a group of scientists including Andrey

Bekker and Doug Rumble from the Carnegie Institution have made the surprising discovery that the creation of

economically important nickel ore deposits was linked to sulfur in the ancient oxygen-poor atmosphere.That small

Canadian company has entered the drilling program at this site after multinational company Rio Tinto, the world’s

largest mining corporation, has abandoned concession in that region.

These ancient ores -- specifically iron-nickel sulfide deposits -- yield 10% of the world's annual nickel production.

They formed for the most part between two and three billion years ago when hot magmas erupted on the ocean floor.

Yet scientists have puzzled over the origin of the rich deposits. The ore minerals require sulfur to form, but neither

seawater nor the magmas hosting the ores were thought to be rich enough in sulfur for this to happen.

"Ore deposits are a tiny fraction of a percent of the Earth's surface, yet economically they are incredibly important.

Modern society cannot exist without specialized metals and alloys, But it's all a matter of local geological

circumstance whether you have a bonanza -- or a bust."(Rumble)

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091119193640.htm?fbclid=IwAR2ZhWp4CRsJt46DR3c56m9yY56giVu3z2VAb_rCiKwkuzC14nSUFFljbM
 BREAKTHROUGHS

SUBMITTED TO: MRS. RHEA

CABRERA

SUBMITTED BY:
DANICA ALCOY
JORIZ VENTURA
 New research supports volcanic origin of Kiruna-type iron ores

The origin of giant apatite-iron oxide ores of the so-called 'Kiruna-type' has been the topic of a long standing debate

that has lasted for over 100 years. In a new article, published in Nature Communications, a team of scientists

presents new and unambiguous data in favour of a magmatic origin for these important iron ores. The study was led

by researchers from Uppsala University in Sweden.

By comparing their data from Kiruna-type iron ores with an extensive set of magnetite samples from volcanic rocks

as well as from known low-temperature hydrothermal iron ore deposits, the researchers were able to show that more

than 80 % of their magnetite samples from Kiruna-type apatite-iron oxide ores were formed by high-temperature

magmatic processes in what must represent volcanic to shallow sub-volcanic settings. The new results constitute an

important advance in our understanding of Kiruna-type ores and will be of help for the interpretation of, and future

exploration for, apatite-iron oxide deposits worldwide.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190412085223.htm

Announcing the discovery of a new mineral: Nataliyamalikite

In the harshest of environments in far-east Russia, Monash scientists have played a leading role in the discovery of a

new mineral, which could revolutionise the future of the mining industry.

The mineral -- Nataliyamalikite -- is new, and did not exist before, explains Professor Joël Brugger, the lead author

in a recently published paper in American Mineralogist.

It contains thallium, a rare heavy metal most famous for its qualities as a poison.
The new mineral was discovered in the Kamchatka Peninsula -- one of the most active volcanic zones in the world,

featuring 160 volcanoes including 29 that are active.

According to Professor Brugger, who spent six weeks in the region, it is also one of the few remaining wild oases

on this planet, a result of politics (off-limit for a long time due to its military significance for the Soviets) as well as

geographical isolation (no road connection to mainland Russia) and harsh climate.

"The discovery of this new mineral means we will be able to better understand how metals are extracted from deep-

seated sources within our planet, and concentrated at shallow levels to form economic ore deposits," Professor

Brugger said.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170705132855.htm

The Newest Minerals on Earth

Uakitite:

Was discovered inside a meteorite found in Buryatia, Russia in 2016. After two years of testing, researchers from

the Ural Federal University, Novosibirsk State University and the Geological Institute at the Siberian Branch of the

Russian Academy of Science uncovered that it is harder than a diamond. Although Uakitite’s discovery spurred

further studies into space mineralogy, the amount discovered on earth was so small that it is unlikely to enter the

mineral market.

Calcium Silicate Perovskite:

speaking of diamonds, this new mineral is found deeply embedded within Mother Earth. Like Uakitite, CSP will

not be seen on the markets any time soon as its carbon structure means it cannot exist on the earth’s surface. It is

estimated to be the fourth most prevalent element on earth, but due to pressure it is not stable on the earth’s

surface. As a result, it is hidden from scientists’ sight at 400 miles below surface. The closest humankind has come

to studying CPS is in its compressed form inside diamonds.