In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have identified two new minerals never before found on Earth, hidden within a massive meteorite that crashed into Somalia in 2020. The discovery was confirmed by researchers at the University of Alberta, shedding new light on the chemical diversity of materials that exist in space but have remained unknown on our planet — until now.

A slice of the El Ali meteorite that fell in Somalia in 2020. Image credit: University of Alberta

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A Rare Visitor From Space

Every day, Earth is bombarded with tons of cosmic material, but the vast majority of it never reaches the surface. As these extraterrestrial rocks enter the atmosphere, intense friction causes them to heat up and disintegrate in a process called ablation, leaving only small fragments—if anything at all.

That’s what makes the El Ali meteorite such a rare and remarkable find. Weighing a staggering 16.5 tons (15 metric tonnes), the meteorite is one of the largest ever discovered on Earth—ranking ninth in size. It landed near the town of El Ali in central Somalia, capturing global attention not just for its sheer size, but for the scientific treasure it held within.

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Discovery of Two New Minerals

After a small 70-gram sample of the meteorite was sent to the University of Alberta for analysis, scientists made a discovery that astonished the geological community. They identified two minerals embedded within the sample that had never been observed in nature before.

“Whenever you find a new mineral, it means the actual geological conditions — the chemistry, the pressure, the temperature — were different from anything we've seen before,” explained Dr. Chris Herd, professor in the Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences and curator of the university’s Meteorite Collection. “That’s what makes this so exciting.”

The minerals were identified using electron microprobe analysis, a technique that allows researchers to precisely determine the elemental composition of microscopic samples. Interestingly, both minerals had been previously synthesized in laboratory settings, which allowed for rapid confirmation once their signatures were detected in the meteorite.

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Meet Elaliite and Elkinstantonite

The newly discovered minerals have been officially named elaliite and elkinstantonite.

• Elaliite derives its name from the meteorite’s landing site, El Ali, Somalia.

• Elkinstantonite honors Dr. Lindy Elkins-Tanton, a renowned planetary scientist and the principal investigator of NASA’s upcoming Psyche mission, which aims to study a metal-rich asteroid thought to be the exposed core of an early planet.

“Lindy has done groundbreaking work on how planetary cores form, especially iron-nickel cores, which are closely related to iron meteorites,” said Herd. “Naming a mineral after her is a fitting tribute to her contributions.”

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A Third Mineral May Be Hidden Within

Even more intriguing is the possibility of a third new mineral present in the meteorite. Researchers believe they may have spotted another previously unknown compound, but further tests are needed to confirm its identity. However, such testing requires larger samples of the meteorite—something that may no longer be possible.

Since the initial discovery, the El Ali meteorite has reportedly been moved to China, where it is likely to be sold to private collectors. Scientists now face the uncertainty of whether future access to the meteorite for research purposes will be granted.

“There’s real scientific potential here,” Herd said. “If we could get our hands on more of the meteorite, who knows what other secrets it might reveal?”

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Why This Matters

The discovery of new minerals in meteorites not only expands our understanding of mineralogy but also offers unique insights into the formation of planets, asteroids, and the early solar system. These materials, forged under alien pressures and temperatures, carry vital information about processes that shaped the universe billions of years ago.

With every new find, we’re reminded of how little we still know about the cosmos—and how much it still has to teach us.