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Gold in pyrite

Mineral Researches

‘Fool’s gold’ not so foolish after all

Geology Page - June 26, 2021

Zircons studied by the research team, photographed using cathodoluminescence, a technique that allowed the team to visualize the interiors of the crystals using a specialized scanning electron microscope. Dark circles on the zircons are the cavities left by the laser that was used to analyze the age and chemistry of the zircons.Scientists led by Michael Ackerson, a research geologist at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, provide new evidence that modern plate tectonics, a defining feature of Earth and its unique ability to support life, emerged roughly 3.6 billion years ago. The study, published May 14 in the journal Geochemical Perspective Letters, uses zircons, the oldest minerals ever found on Earth, to peer back into the planet's ancient past.The team tested more than 3,500 zircons, each just a couple of human hairs wide, by blasting them with a laser and then measuring their chemical composition with a mass spectrometer. These tests revealed the age and underlying chemistry of each zircon. Of the thousands tested, about 200 were fit for study due to the ravages of the billions of years these minerals endured since their creation. Credit: Michael Ackerson, Smithsonian.

Mineral Researches

Earth’s oldest minerals date onset of plate tectonics to 3.6 billion years ago

McGill Colloidal Au research team study a mineralized (gold-bearing) vein underground at the Brucejack mine. Credit: Duncan McLeish

Mineral Researches

Clues from soured milk reveal how gold veins form

The research potentially has wide implications for the materials sector and industry. Credit: Monash University

Mineral Researches

Rare earth unlocks copper, gold and silver secrets

Mineral Researches

Scientists and philosopher team up, propose a new way to categorize minerals

Igneous zircon crystal: shows zircon had two main growth periods approx. 20 million years apart in different magmas.

Mineral Researches

Geoscientists use zircon to trace origin of Earth’s continents

Geology Page - December 3, 2020

Fragments of the Oued Awlitis 001 meteorites acquired by the Ludovic-Ferrière. Credit: University of Manchester

Mineral Researches

Donwilhelmsite : New mineral from the moon could explain what happens...

Geology Page - November 4, 2020

Chrysoberyl

Mineral Researches

Chrysoberyl : One of the world’s most expensive Gemstone

Geology Page - October 17, 2020

The fluid inclusions inside the olivine contain nanodiamonds, apart from serpentine, magnetite, metallic silicon and pure methane. Credit: University of Barcelona

Mineral Researches

Natural nanodiamonds in oceanic rocks

Geology Page - October 17, 2020

Photo of a glendonite. Credit: Bo Schultz

Mineral Researches

Volcanic eruptions may explain Denmark’s giant mystery crystals

Geology Page - October 17, 2020

Brazilian emeralds in a quartz-pegmatite matrix. (Photo courtesy of Madereugeneandrew/Wikimedia Commons)

Mineral Researches

Earth grows fine gems in minutes

Geology Page - October 9, 2020

A sample of pebbly rock that U of A researchers took from an outcrop in Nunavut. The rock was found to contain both gold and diamonds—a rare combination similar to that found in the world's richest gold deposit in South Africa. (Photo: Supplied)

Mineral Researches

Diamonds found with gold in Canada’s Far North offer clues to...

Geology Page - October 9, 2020

Pioneering new research has helped geologists solve a long-standing puzzle that could help pinpoint new, untapped concentrations of some the most valuable rare earth deposits. Credit: Michael Anenburg, ANU.

Mineral Researches

Geologists solve puzzle that could predict valuable rare earth element deposits

Geology Page - October 9, 2020

Larger: A back-scattered electron image of a microscopic crystal of priscillagrewite-(Y) enclosed in fluorapatite. Inset: An optical image of the same crystal. Credit: American Mineralogist / Irina Galuskina et al.

Mineral Researches

Priscillagrewite : New mineral named in honor of renowned Nebraska geologist

Geology Page - September 18, 2020

A rough diamond from Kankan, Guinea, that was analyzed in a new study led by a PhD student at the U of A. The imperfections inside the diamond are small inclusions of a mineral called ferropericlase, which is from the lower mantle. Credit: Anetta Banas

Mineral Researches

Uncovering new understanding of Earth’s carbon cycle

Geology Page - September 12, 2020

Location and geological map of Yukinoura district, Saikai City, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. Credit: Professor Tadao Nishiyama

Mineral Researches

Japan’s geologic history in question after discovery of metamorphic rock microdiamonds

Geology Page - September 12, 2020

Quartz is one of the most common crystals on Earth

Mineral Researches

Meteorite strikes may create unexpected form of silica

Geology Page - September 1, 2020

Top 15 Most Expensive Gemstones In The World

Mineral Researches

Top 15 Most Expensive Gemstones In The World

Geology Page - August 6, 2020

A Trapiche emerald from Muzo Mine, Colombia. Credit: Luciana Barbosa/Wikipedia

Mineral Researches

Trapiche Emerald : What is a Trapiche Emerald? How Does a...

Geology Page - July 16, 2020

The Pink Star diamond, which fetched the highest price ever for a jewel offered at auction, is displayed at Sotheby's in Hong Kong on March 29. Credit: Vincent Yu/AP

Mineral Researches

Pink Star Diamond : The largest known Pink Diamond

Geology Page - July 16, 2020

Amethyst-Geode in the parent rock

Mineral Researches

How do the Geodes get Colorful?

Geology Page - June 30, 2020

zultanite gemstones, rough and crystal form lighting

Mineral Researches

Zultanite : What is Zultanite Mineral? Where to find Zultanite?

Geology Page - June 27, 2020

Purple Amethyst

Mineral Researches

Purple Amethyst : What causes the purple color of amethyst?

Geology Page - June 18, 2020

The Roebling Opal

Mineral Researches

Roebling Opal : Amazing Rare blue and green Opal Found in...

Geology Page - June 17, 2020

Graphite & Hexagonal Diamond

Mineral Researches

Study shows diamonds aren’t forever

Geology Page - June 6, 2020

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Giant prehistoric bird fossils found in Antarctica

May 19, 2016

Molten Magma Can Survive in Upper Crust for Hundreds of Millennia

August 20, 2013

One of the three fossils of Lessiniabatis aenigmatica (MNHN F.Bol.566) from the famous fossil site of Monte Bolca (Italy) preserved as part and counterpart. The specimen is housed in the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle of Paris. Credit: Giuseppe Marramà

Fossil fish provides new insights into the evolution

October 3, 2019

Antarctic Ice Sheet unstable at end of last ice age, new...

May 28, 2014

MORE ARTICLES

Ancient crater points to massive meteorite strike

Exceptional fossil fish reveals new evolutionary mechanism for body elongation

This very complete specimen of the ichthyosaur Suevoleviathan is from the Early Jurassic of Germany. Many excellently preserved ichthyosaur fossils are known from this time and have been collected from the UK and Germany. Mary Anning from Lyme Regis is intimately associated with fossil collection and found the first recognized ichthyosaur fossils in 1810. Credit: Dr Ben Moon & Dr Tom Stubbs

Boom and bust for ancient sea dragons

Alaska volcano Q&A