The mineral is edscottite, identified in a slice of the Wedderburn meteorite from central Victoria. The discovery matters because edscottite had been encountered in iron-smelting settings, but this was a reported natural occurrence—not because the material had never existed in any other context.
What was found in the Wedderburn meteorite?
The Wedderburn meteorite is a small, iron-rich specimen found just outside the town of Wedderburn in 1951. A 2019 account by the Council of Australasian Museum Directors, credited to Liam Mannix’s reporting in The Age, says the original rock weighed 220 grams and had been divided for study. At the time of that account, 71 grams remained in Museums Victoria’s vaults; those are historical figures, not a statement of the collection’s current inventory. Council of Australasian Museum Directors account, 1 September 2019.
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A Caltech team examined a slice in 2018 and identified a thin sliver of edscottite among other mineral layers. It consists of iron and carbon atoms arranged in a particular way. The mineral was named for Edward Scott, a pioneering cosmochemist. Council of Australasian Museum Directors account, 1 September 2019.
Why was it new if smelters had produced it?
“Never before seen in nature” is narrower than “never made before.” The account says edscottite had been encountered in smelters as a phase of iron during steelmaking. Its significance as a mineral discovery was its identification in a naturally occurring specimen: the Wedderburn meteorite.
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- Starborn Genuine Campo Del Cielo Meteorite Nugget 20-30 gram - 1 per order. Each Meteorite nugget is unique and will vary slightly, but will be similar to ones pictured in the images. Size approx. 1 by 3/4 inch, 20-30 grams
- These exciting meteorite fragments have a unique nugget shape caused by fractures in the natural crystalline structure of this Iron-Nickel Meteorite.
- The Campo Del Cielo Meteorite was discovered by the Spanish in 1576; it struck the earth approximately 5000 years ago in what is today Chaco Gulamba, Argentina.
Museums Victoria senior curator of geosciences Stuart Mills explained the proposed formation process this way: “This meteorite had an abundance of carbon in it. And as it slowly cooled down, the iron and carbon came together and formed this mineral.” Mills also said, “But they have never seen it naturally occurring. And minerals only get a name when you can find them in nature.” That is his explanation in the account, not a complete statement of mineral-naming standards. Council of Australasian Museum Directors account, 1 September 2019.
Did edscottite form in a destroyed planet?
The proposed explanation is that edscottite formed as iron and carbon cooled in the core of a differentiated parent body, and that the meteorite is debris from a body that was later broken apart. This is a reconstruction of the meteorite’s history, not an event scientists witnessed directly. The account quotes Australian National University planetary scientist Geoffrey Bonning describing the proposed fate of the body: “It got blasted apart.” Council of Australasian Museum Directors account, 1 September 2019.
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Edscottite is not ringwoodite
These minerals belong to separate Australian meteorite stories. Edscottite was identified in the Wedderburn meteorite from Victoria. Ringwoodite was named by University of New England geologist Ray Binns in a 1969 paper after he examined the Tenham meteorite, which fell near Windorah, Queensland, in 1879. UNE describes ringwoodite as a high-pressure mineral associated with conditions deep within Earth and with shock veins in the meteorite. University of New England, “Meteorite that revealed Earth’s depths,” 9 October 2019.
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- Authentic Specimen: This meteorite specimen measures 0.51 x 0.23 x 0.23 in and weighs about 0.74 oz, giving you a specimen with a naturally irregular shape that is suitable for science display, classroom teaching meteorite use, and personal collection
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- AUTHENTIC METEORITE: Genuine iron meteorite specimen from outer space, featuring a distinctive dark fusion crust and unique surface patterns
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- 1pc Black Tibetan Tektite Small 20-30mm Size Rare Meteorite Material Raw Rough Natural Crystal Gemstone Specimen from Tibet.
- Aprx. Weight: 9 - 16 Grams (Avg. 12gr)..................Aprx. Size: 3/4" - 1 1/4" (Avg. 7/8" - 1") Long on it's Longest Side or 3/4" - 1" Diameter (Avg. 7/8" Diameter on the More Rounded Shaped Pieces)....Most Pieces Are Full Fat Roundish/Ovalish Shped, but some pieces are more Narrow on 1 or more sides, however I picked them & each piece has it's own Character & may make up for size in other unique aspects...Lots of Beautiful Pitting, Markings, Dimples, & Craters! Buyers Should be pleased!
- You will receive 1 piece from the exact same pieces being shown in my pictures......there is Only 50 pieces total Left Available of this size, ........ ....Every piece is unique & one of a kind, so needless to say that they may vary in exact size & shape, etc...
- Don't miss out on them, because I'm sure that one day sooner than later, there will be no more of these available to find on earth. except in someones personal collection!
- Buyer receives 1 piece (One) from the exact pieces being shown in my pictures. Usually in the Last, but, always in at least one image I show the item(s) on a grid, & next to a ruler to show true size comparison, so please look at all my pictures, which I only take myself & with natural light only to show actual true color(s) & I never show item(s) WET! The item(s) may only ever look even better than the pictures!
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