Naturally Formed Quasicrystals: A Rare Geological Phenomenon

Quasicrystals are a fascinating and unique form of matter first observed in the laboratory by Israeli-American physicist Daniel Shechtman in the 1980s. Shechtman’s discovery challenged the prevailing understanding of crystals, which held that a crystal’s atomic arrangement must be ordered and periodic. Contrary to this belief, Shechtman identified an alloy whose atoms exhibited a form of order but lacked periodicity—an arrangement previously deemed impossible.

Initial Discovery and Skepticism

Initially, Shechtman’s findings faced skepticism from the scientific community. However, subsequent experiments validated his observations, earning him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2011. This recognition underscored the significance of his work and opened new avenues for research into non-periodic structures.

Natural Occurrence of Quasicrystals

Intriguingly, quasicrystals had formed naturally long before their discovery in the lab, dating back approximately 4.5 billion years. Russian geologist Valery Kryachko uncovered this by finding naturally occurring quasicrystals in the Koryak Mountains of Eastern Russia. Kryachko stumbled upon these quasicrystals while investigating mineral samples, and further studies dated their formation to around the birth of our solar system.

Structural Characteristics

These naturally occurring quasicrystals exhibited similar structural characteristics to their synthetic counterparts. Like all quasicrystals, they demonstrated symmetry operations forbidden in regular crystals and possessed non-integral diffraction indices. The discovery of natural quasicrystals was exciting as it provided significant insights into nature’s ability to produce highly complex structures spontaneously under certain conditions.

Implications for Planetary Formation

Further research is needed to understand how these quasicrystals could have formed naturally during Earth’s early history and to identify other extreme circumstances that might trigger such unusual atomic arrangements. These studies could offer valuable information about planetary formation processes.

Broader Impact on Science

Although the accidental discovery of natural quasicrystals initially went relatively unnoticed outside specialized scientific circles, it represents a striking example of the unexpected ways in which nature can create order from chaos. This discovery has opened up a vast chemistry and materials science research field, highlighting the intricate complexities of natural processes.

Conclusion

The study of quasicrystals continues to be an area rich with potential for discoveries. From challenging established scientific paradigms to offering insights into planetary formation processes, quasicrystals exemplify how much there is still to learn about the natural world.

References

Bindi, L.; Yao, N.; Lin, C.; Hollister, L.S.; Andronicos, C.L.; Distler, V.V.; Eddy, M.P.; Kostin, A.; Kryachko, V.; MacPherson G.J.; Steinhardt W.M., Sally.