Every now and then, scientists across the world are discovering unknown but, precious things. And lately, some scientists have discovered a new mineral in Western Australia. According to those scientists, this mineral is “unique.”
Scientists have named the mineral as ‘Putnisite‘. Its color is purple and its is translucent. Scientists found Putnisite in a surface outcrop at Lake Cowan, north of Norseman in Western Australia. This unique mineral has a very unusual combination – it contains: strontium, calcium, chromium, sulphur, carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. Putnisite occurs as tiny crystals. It has a diameter of 0.5 mm. It appears as dark pink spots on dark green and white rock which, under the microscope, appears as square, cube-like crystals.
Dr Peter Elliott, who is a Research Associate with the South Australian Museum, said, “Most minerals belong to a family or small group of related minerals, or if they aren’t related to other minerals they often are to a synthetic compound, but putnisite is completely unique and unrelated to anything.”
Now scientists have to determine whether or not this newly discovered mineral will have any practical use. It is to be noted here that Putnisite has been named for Australian mineralogists Andrew and Christine Putnis. Scientists have explained about Putnisite in the Mineralogical Magazine.
Source: Sci-News
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