Wed Jun 27, 2012, 12:45 PM
DainBramaged (37,811 posts)
They have discovered unobtainium
A fireball that tears across the sky is not just a one-time skywatching event — it can reap scientific dividends long afterward. In fact, one that lit up Mexico's skies in 1969 scattered thousands of meteorite bits across the northern Mexico state of Chihuahua. And now, decades later, that meteorite, named Allende, has divulged a new mineral called panguite.
Panguite is believed to be among the oldest minerals in the solar system, which is about 4.5 billion years old. Panguite belongs to a class of refractory minerals that could have formed only under the extreme temperatures and conditions present in the infant solar system. The name of the titanium dioxide mineral, which has been approved by the International Mineralogical Association, honors Pan Gu, said in Chinese mythology to be the first living being who created the world by separating yin from yang (forming the earth and sky). "Panguite is an especially exciting discovery since it is not only a new mineral, but also a material previously unknown to science," study researcher Chi Ma, a senior scientist at Caltech, said in a statement. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/26/1969-fireball-meteorite-mineral_n_1629464.html?utm_hp_ref=science not found in Nature or created in a lab. could be explored for novel engineering materials meaning the Pentagon is probably interested.
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15 replies, 1225 views
| Author | Time | Post | |
| DainBramaged | Jun 2012 | OP | |
| Ian David | Jun 2012 | #1 | |
| MineralMan | Jun 2012 | #2 | |
| hifiguy | Jun 2012 | #3 | |
| bongbong | Jun 2012 | #8 | |
| NickB79 | Jun 2012 | #4 | |
| DainBramaged | Jun 2012 | #6 | |
| TlalocW | Jun 2012 | #5 | |
| Tyrs WolfDaemon | Jun 2012 | #7 | |
| DainBramaged | Jun 2012 | #12 | |
| Tyrs WolfDaemon | Jun 2012 | #14 | |
| DainBramaged | Jun 2012 | #15 | |
| bongbong | Jun 2012 | #9 | |
| DainBramaged | Jun 2012 | #13 | |
| L0oniX | Jun 2012 | #10 | |
| white_wolf | Jun 2012 | #11 |
Response to DainBramaged (Original post)
Wed Jun 27, 2012, 12:48 PM
Ian David (68,416 posts)
1. Do not taunt Panguite. n/t
Response to DainBramaged (Original post)
Wed Jun 27, 2012, 12:49 PM
MineralMan (53,845 posts)
2. New minerals are always interesting.
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Thanks for posting.
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Response to DainBramaged (Original post)
Wed Jun 27, 2012, 12:51 PM
hifiguy (13,029 posts)
3. Hell, they've been using unobtanium in exotic audio components for years.
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How else to explain phono cartridges that cost $10-15,000, $100,000 (and more) turntables and $200+ thousand dollar speaker systems.
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Response to hifiguy (Reply #3)
Wed Jun 27, 2012, 02:02 PM
bongbong (5,436 posts)
8. Not unobtanium
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You're mistaking unobtainium for gullibarium, the actual mineral used in those expensive components.
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Response to DainBramaged (Original post)
Wed Jun 27, 2012, 12:51 PM
NickB79 (9,399 posts)
4. Um, it is found in nature. It was found inside a meteorite. nt
Response to NickB79 (Reply #4)
Wed Jun 27, 2012, 01:06 PM
DainBramaged (37,811 posts)
6. Uh, not of this Earth, wasn't that clear, meteorite, space, another planet?
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Your literal PCedness is annoying.
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Response to DainBramaged (Original post)
Wed Jun 27, 2012, 12:56 PM
TlalocW (8,894 posts)
5. This landed in Mexico but it's given a Chinese name?
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Why not, I don't know.. Tlalocite to associate it with Mexican culture... Yes, it's part of my internet handle, but that has no bearing on my naming choice... really.
TlalocW |
Response to DainBramaged (Original post)
Wed Jun 27, 2012, 01:23 PM
Tyrs WolfDaemon (1,918 posts)
7. I had a Mineralogy prof once that created a new mineral in his lab
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He then wrote a paper all about it and how it could 'Never be found in Nature'. A short time later he got a call from a geologist with the USGS who had to thank him so very much for identifying the mineral since he had found a ton of the stuff in his work area and had no idea what it was.
Moral: Be careful about using 'not found in Nature'. Nature tends to come back and bite us on the A$$ when we say things like that. (Besides, meteorites are part of Nature) |
Response to Tyrs WolfDaemon (Reply #7)
Wed Jun 27, 2012, 02:11 PM
DainBramaged (37,811 posts)
12. I didn't write the article
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go write the author if your unhappy with their writings and that it doesnt fit into your neat little 'nature' box.
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Response to DainBramaged (Reply #12)
Wed Jun 27, 2012, 03:02 PM
Tyrs WolfDaemon (1,918 posts)
14. My comment was general in nature - not meant against anyone
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Besides the article says "Until now, panguite had neither been seen in nature nor created in a lab" not "not found in Nature or created in a lab"
Nature is a wonder and things 'new to us' are being discovered all the time. I hope we never find out everything as that would make the universe and Nature a very boring place. I really don't need to worry too much about that though as Humans are too vain and egotistical to ever really know everything about the universe. |
Response to Tyrs WolfDaemon (Reply #14)
Wed Jun 27, 2012, 03:35 PM
DainBramaged (37,811 posts)
15. Once again, if you're unhappy with the article, contact the author
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sorry it has created so much stress for you...
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Response to DainBramaged (Original post)
Wed Jun 27, 2012, 02:03 PM
bongbong (5,436 posts)
9. Creationists
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I wonder how the creationist whack jobs will handle this.
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Response to bongbong (Reply #9)
Wed Jun 27, 2012, 02:11 PM
DainBramaged (37,811 posts)
13. I think we already know....
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Response to DainBramaged (Original post)
Wed Jun 27, 2012, 02:05 PM
L0oniX (17,327 posts)
10. I'm using Ubuntu right now.
Response to DainBramaged (Original post)
Wed Jun 27, 2012, 02:07 PM
white_wolf (5,722 posts)
11. This could quite possibly mean major breakthroughs that could help humanity, but...
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we'll probably just use it to build better bombs.
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