Exotic Quasicrystal May Represent New Type of Mineral
Thursday, June 4, 2009 - 15:35
in Physics & Chemistry
A team of researchers says they have found in a Russian mineral sample the first natural example of a quasicrystal, an unusual material that displays some of the properties of a crystal but boasts a more intricate and complex structure. Since quasicrystals were characterized 25 years ago, numerous versions have been cooked up in the laboratory, but a natural example would indicate that nature's products are more diverse than previously thought. [More]