Explained: What is Goldschmidtite?

News:A new mineral has been discovered inside a diamond unearthed from a mine in South Africa.

Facts:

• The mineral has been found in Earth’s Mantle (A part of the Interior of the Earth) which covers 80% of earth’s volume.
• It has high concentrations of niobium, potassium and the rare earth elements lanthanum and cerium.
• The found single grain is dark green in colour and opaque.
• The mineral has been named after the Norwegian scientist Victor Moritz Goldschmidt who is considered as the founder of Modern Geochemist.

Additional information:

Interior of the Earth:The earth interior is generally classified into three layers: 

• Crust which is the outermost layer of the earth
• Mantle which lies between the crust and the core and is divided into upper and lower mantle
• Core which is the deepest zone of the earth which is again divided into the outer and inner core.