11.09.2015 change 11.09.2015

Morasko meteorite revealed more minerals

Photo: Fotolia Photo: Fotolia

Two new phosphates - moraskoite and czochralskiite - have been found by scientists from five universities in the Morasko Meteorite Nature Reserve. These minerals expanded the list of several phosphates, which have so far been identified in meteorites and other extraterrestrial objects.

One of the discoverers of minerals, Prof. Ryszard Kryza explained that some of the phosphates discovered in extraterrestrial objects had not been found in rocks formed on Earth. "Phosphates are the main carrier of phosphorus in the space matter, and the huge interest in them results from the important role of phosphorus in the formation of life in our solar system" - explained Head of the Department of Mineralogy and Petrology at the Institute of Geological Sciences of the University of Wroclaw of the university website.

Moraskoite is transparent and has a chemical composition that is unusual in earth conditions. The individual grains reach the size of 300 mm. Czochralskiite is named after Jan Czochralski. Chemical composition of czochralskiite is also different from the previously known phosphates. But - according to Prof. Kryza - detailed information about the minerals will soon be published in specialist journals.

The discovery of new minerals was made by mineralogists from five Polish academic centres, conducting research led by Prof. Łukasz Karwowski from the University of Silesia, and Prof. Andrzej Muszyński from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. The work also involved researchers from: the University of Wrocław, Wrocław University of Technology and AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków.

Meteorite collided with the Earth\'s surface about 5-6 thousand years ago. "Morasko - one of the most famous Polish meteorites - turns out to be a source of ever new scientific discoveries" - noted Prof. Kryza. It consists mainly of metallic iron, also a wealth of phosphates. "In addition to the apatite, fairly common on Earth, there are several other phosphates with more "exotic" names: buchwaldite, brianite, merrillite, and two brand new, previously unknown minerals - moraskoite and czochralskiite" - explained Prof. Kryza.

Both new phosphates have been officially approved by the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC) of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA). Holotypes (mineral specimens described for the first time in the world) have been handed to the Mineralogical Museum in Wrocław, which is one of the only two museums in Poland authorized to store them.

Holotypes will be on display in the branch of the Mineralogical Museum at Kuźnicza 22 during Lower Silesian Science Festival on 18 and 19 September. After that date, the Museum plans to add them to the permanent exhibition of holotypes and cotypes.

Detailed information (in Polish) on the new phosphates is available at: http://uni.wroc.pl/wiadomości/odkrycia/dwa-nowo-odkryte-minerały-w-muzeum-mineralogicznym-uwr

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