Scientists discovered high-pressure mineral in lunar meteorite

[Judi Lynn]

It was discovered within the lunar meteorite Oued Awlitis 001 found in 2014 in the Western Sahara.

BY
AMIT MALEWAR
NOVEMBER 4, 2020

European scientists have discovered a new high-pressure mineral donwilhelmsite from the moon in a lunar meteorite. It is the first high-pressure mineral found in meteorites with the application for terrestrial sediments dragged deep into the Earth mantle by plate tectonics. The discovery of the mineral could help explain what happens to materials within the extreme pressures of the Earth’s mantle.

The donwilhelmsite is consists of calcium, aluminum, silicon, and oxygen atoms. It was discovered within the lunar meteorite Oued Awlitis 001 found in 2014 in Western Sahara.

In the terrestrial rock cycle, donwilhelmsite is an essential agent for transporting continental crustal sediments through the transition zone of the Earth’s mantle (460-700 km depth).

The Apollo and Luna missions have gathered around 382 kilograms of rocks and soils; lunar meteorites allow valuable knowledge into the moon’s formation and evolution. Ejected by impacts onto the lunar surface and delivered to Earth, some of these meteorites experienced especially high temperatures and pressures.

More:
https://www.techexplorist.com/scientists-discovered-high-pressure-mineral-lunar-meteorite/35991/

[abqtommy]

1. It's good for us humans to realize that we live in a universe that contains forces largely

beyond our control.