New Mineral Discovered in Moon Meteorite 15
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."
Damn, (Score:3, Funny)
(Sorry watching 13 Stargate episodes in a row, can't be good)
Re:Damn, (Score:1)
First hapkeite crystals... (Score:1)
...tomorrow, dilithium crystals!
At Last! (Score:4, Funny)
Re:At Last! (Score:1)
+2 funny or thereabouts.
Last week mod points every 2 days, this week meta mod shows up twice a day. Slashcode may need a better random num generator.(or recheck of algo)
Mycroft
Could this mineral form on mars? (Score:4, Interesting)
If so - wonder if the rovers could spot it coating Martian rocks...
Re:Could this mineral form on mars? (Score:2)
Re:Could this mineral form on mars? (Score:2)
I'm no expert but I'd be very surprised if you could get meteorites of this speed and size on the surface of Mars . . . Even a very thin atmoshere would slow down such tiny meteors before they hit the surface.
Mars has a significant atmosphere (though not as thick as earth's) . . .Didn't a probe burn up in the atmosphere b/c we couldn't convert unit
Huh!!! (Score:1)
or is there a teleporter between the moon and oman?!!?
The new mineral (Score:1)
Hmm. 150 micrometres is about the diameter of a human hair. Travelling at 100,000 kph? That would hurt.
I suddenly feel very grateful for our atmosphere.