SOCORRO, N.M. (KRQE) – A unique rock dug up in southern New Mexico has led to a geological landslide of findings in recent months, after scientists say that rock held several undiscovered minerals.
Story continues below
“This is unusual in that it came in a bunch, and that’s not always the case,” said Dr. Virgil Lueth, former Director of the New Mexico Mineral Museum.
Geologist Ray Demark found the rock while digging for fluorite around the Cookes Peak area, back in 2016. He thought the rock looked unusual and shipped it off to Arizona to have it tested. Years later, the International Mineralogical Association have recognized these minerals as brand new discoveries out of New Mexico.
“Minerals in general are the building blocks of the Earth, so understanding what minerals exist and what their structure, and chemistry, and properties are, help us better understand the Earth,” said Dr. John Rakonav, the current Director of the New Mexico Mineral Museum.
Named after the man who found the rock, raydemarkite, was the first mineral discovered. Years later, virgilluethite was found, and named after Lueth. Those two minerals, Rakonav said, could be considered sister minerals as they have the same chemistry composition, but their crystal structures are different.
“These are the two things that define a mineral,” Dr. Rakonav said. “Their chemistry, and their arrangement of atoms, the crystal structure.”
The latest discovery was stunorthropite, named after Stuart Northrop, a prominent geologist from New Mexico, and former University of New Mexico professor. The minerals are microscopic and require special equipment to see them. As with many new findings, Dr. Rakovan said it’ll take some time and research to find out if the minerals have any particular uses.