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New Mineral Discovered in Moon Meteorite

Posted by michael on from the hot-topics dept.

zuikaku writes "There are several reports of the discovery of a new mineral in a lunar meteorite found in Oman. The new mineral, hapkeite, is named for Bruce Hapke, the scientist who predicted 30 years ago that such a mineral would exist. The mineral only forms on the moon due to impacts from meteroites that are too small to impact the Earth (they would burn up in our atmosphere). The small impacts melt lunar rocks and create a mineral vapor which then collects on other rocks."

1 of 15 comments (clear)

  1. Could this mineral form on mars? by dtolman · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Mars has a very thin atmosphere - anyone know if it is thin enough for small enough meteors to get through?

    If so - wonder if the rovers could spot it coating Martian rocks...