Minerals are geologic time capsules of the environments in which they form. With the right approach, their mysteries can be cracked open to reveal key features of the ancient Earth or other planets.

The effect is similar to how players in the popular digital game Tetris rotate, align and translate pieces to form a solid plane of uniform blocks. In the game, players rotate a piece so it lines up ...

Water molecules line up tiny particles to attach and form minerals; understanding how this happens impacts energy extraction and storage along with waste disposal. Large crystals growing in water ...

“Early in my career, as I studied at the China University of Geosciences in Wuhan, I wanted to discover where and how minerals formed. Now, I develop geochemical tools to explore how minerals form in ...

Alexander Gysi believes that understanding when, how and where critical minerals form is essential for U.S. independence in resourcing these elements. “That’s the first step of exploration,” said Gysi ...

Two new minerals have been discovered in lunar dust, revealing secrets about the Moon's formation and internal evolution.

Interactions between iron, water, oxygen and ions quickly become complex. MTU scientists developed a more precise method to observe how iron minerals like rust form. One can easily see with the naked ...