In 2020, scientists discovered a meteorite weighing 15,000 kg near the town of El Ali in Somalia, Africa.
As a result, it was named El Ali.
Recently, by analyzing a 70-gram section sample from this meteorite, researchers at the University of Alberta in Canada discovered two new minerals never before seen on Earth.
The results were presented at the Space Exploration Symposium 2022 at the University of Alberta on Nov. 21, 2022.
They named the two minerals elaliite and elkinstantonite, respectively, and classified them as IAB-type iron meteorites, based on the location where the meteorite was unearthed and the name of Lindy Elkins-Tanton, a NASA researcher in charge of the asteroid mission.
These new minerals may help point to new geological and chemical processes, as well as the development of new materials.
In addition, the researchers expect that a third new mineral may be present in this meteorite, although additional samples from this meteorite need to be examined.
