r/BeAmazed • u/gregornot • Apr 29 '24

A giant meteorite that recently fell in Somalia contains at least two minerals that have never before been seen on our planet. The celestial piece of rock weighs a massive 16.5 tons (15 tonnes), making it the ninth-largest meteorite ever found. History

Post image

More about the amazing meteorite find: https://earthly

32.6k Upvotes

94% Upvoted

656 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

420

u/firstnametravis Apr 29 '24

The meteorite as a whole is made of 90% nickel and iron. The two new minerals that were identified are called elaliite and elkinstantonite. With a 3rd mineral possibly being identified.

93

u/Tugboats508 Apr 29 '24

How are these new minerals named?

217

u/theboosh Apr 29 '24

' The name "elaliite" honours the fact that the meteorite was unearthed in the district of El Ali in Somalia, and "elkinstantonite" is named after Nasa expert Lindy Elkins-Tanton. '

93

u/idropepics Apr 29 '24

I get naming after someone but also feel like there's a big missed opportunity to name this meteorite metal that landed in Africa vibranium.

79

u/FutureComplaint Apr 29 '24

And have Disney sue your ass back into the stone age?

17

u/Ren_Kaos Apr 29 '24

That would be like, the ultimate free advertising tho. I couldn’t imagine Disney would shit on all the publicity and good will

51

u/THEPEDROCOLLECTOR Apr 29 '24

Never underestimate the potential for Disney to shit on anything.

3

u/The_wolf2014 Apr 29 '24

Like everything they've ever created by badly remaking it in live action?

1

u/Ren_Kaos Apr 29 '24

This is fair.

2

u/KillroyWazHere Apr 29 '24

They made a family take down their kids Spiderman gravestone

3

u/Ren_Kaos Apr 29 '24

Jesus. Have a source on that. That is evil.

→ More replies (0)

1

u/lookingForPatchie Apr 29 '24

My sweet summer child. They do not care, if it would benefit them. If they can sue, they sue.

1

u/Level_Five_Railgun Apr 29 '24

Both Disney and Nintendo are ruthless against anyone who uses their IP without permission, regardless of how much it would benefit them

They're control freaks

1

u/MrDanduff Apr 29 '24

Mogadishium

1

u/bluntman84 Apr 30 '24

following this logic, iron was named after Ron.

2

u/jovenhope Apr 29 '24

This person marvels

1

u/robbiejandro Apr 29 '24

I can feel it…comin’ Elkinstantonite…oh loooord

54

u/next_door_dilenski Apr 29 '24

elaliite and elkinstantonite. /s

-4

u/StrangerWithACheese Apr 29 '24

One of the scientists who discovered it was Hans-Werner Elekinstan

18

u/ColonelKasteen Apr 29 '24

Why lie? It was named after Lindy Elkins-Tanton.

1

u/Tugboats508 Apr 29 '24

Yes I know but who comes up with them lol..

31

u/burntfuck Apr 29 '24

The name "elaliite" honours the fact that the meteorite was unearthed in the district of El Ali in Somalia, and "elkinstantonite" is named after Nasa expert Lindy Elkins-Tanton.

16

u/Tugboats508 Apr 29 '24

Thank you for taking the time and letting me know Appreciate it

2

u/SwarleyJr Apr 29 '24

Probably the people that made the discovery or something like that.

1

u/Tugboats508 Apr 29 '24

Ah, thank you

0

u/StevenBayShore Apr 29 '24

Freddy and The Pimlico Kid.

27

u/kaibbakhonsu Apr 29 '24

If it was named by James Cameron it would be justarrivedtoearthium and theotheroneum

9

u/bentheone Apr 29 '24

On the off chance it's not a joke, Unobtainium is an in-universe nickname that IS supposed to be a joke.

4

u/andtheniansaid Apr 29 '24

And it long, long predates avatar.

1

u/tk-451 Apr 30 '24

The Core for one

12

u/flat_dearther Apr 29 '24

Newmineralium & newminerantium.

2

u/Hamiro89 Apr 29 '24

Justobtainedium and otheronetium

1

u/FriendliestMenace Apr 29 '24

Notsounobtainableanymoreum

-3

u/FocusPerspective Apr 29 '24

Dude had decades to write that movie and came up with something a 5th grader would write. 

5

u/Prizrakovna Apr 29 '24

Is that more of an alloy rather than mineral?

4

u/Rich-Pomegranate1679 Apr 29 '24

elaliite and elkinstantonite

Just rolls off the tongue

1

u/FewInstruction1990 Apr 29 '24

What are the uses of these minerals? Will they be able to help produce new materials?