Latest news with #Amaterasuite
SoraNews24
2 days ago
- Science
- SoraNews24
New mineral discovered in Japan named after the goddess of the sun
Researchers are far from jaded about this jade. It's sometimes surprising what we humans don't know. Take rocks for example. Animals and plants are always moving around and evolving in a state of flux, so it's not surprising to find new ones here and there, but I would have sworn we'd have had all the rocks bagged and tagged by now. And yet a research team composed of academics, corporate scientists, and even amateur mineral researchers has managed to come across an entirely new mineral. It's a variation of jade, or more specifically, the jadeite form of what we call jade, but this rock has a composition unique enough to classify it as a mineral all its own. Only a very tiny amount of it was discovered in a sample of regular jade from Okayama Prefecture. Pure Jadeite has a chemical composition of NaAlSi2O6, but this new mineral is made up of Sr4Ti6Si4O23(OH)Cl, which includes significant amounts of strontium and titanium. ▼ This photo shows a section of jade (the white part) only two millimeters wide. Only the very small green parts are the newly discovered mineral. It was named Amaterasuite ('ah-mah-terra-soo-ite') after the Japanese creation goddess Amaterasu. Part of the reason for the naming is that jade has long been an important mineral in Japan throughout history, and was even declared the National Stone by the Japan Association of Mineralogical Sciences in 2016. It only seems fitting to name a version of jade after the main goddess of the Shinto religion in that way. But there's actually another, more important reason for the name. Many gods in Shinto are said to exist in a duality called aratama and nigitama, where the former is the raging form of the god and the latter is the peaceful form. The aratama and nigitama are one and the same god, but are never seen in the same place at the same time, kind of like two heads of the same coin. Meanwhile, minerals always have a uniform crystalline chemical arrangement, much in the way that diamond and graphite are both just carbon but differ in the way the atoms are uniformly arranged throughout. Amaterasuite, however, has two atomic arrangements existing in the same mineral but never in the same place at the same time. ▼ Diagram showing the dual structure (Type A and Type B) of Amaterasuite This type of crystalline structure has been theorized before, but Amaterasuite is the first time such a structure has ever been found in nature. This not only bridges the gap between theoretical and observed mineralogy, but it provides some more insight into the conditions that cause jade to form. Speaking of which, jade is created when the same subduction of tectonic plates that causes so many earthquakes in Japan makes small cracks in the Earth's crust. Chemicals from that part of the ocean seep into the cracks and, with the unique combination of low temperatures and high pressures, form into jade. The unique composition of Amaterasuite suggests that more complex reactions might be occurring in this process than previously thought. This also marks the second recent scientific discovery to be named after Amaterasu. We can assume zoologists in Japan are chomping at the bit to find a new species of wolf they can name after her too. Source: The Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo, Yomiuri Shimbun Online, My Game News Flash Featured image: Wikipedia/Utagawa Kunisada Insert images: The Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Yomiuri Shimbun
6 days ago
- Science
- Yomiuri Shimbun
New Mineral Amaterasuite Named After Japanese Goddess; Dark Green Stone Includes Strontium, Titanium, Chlorine
A collaborative research team of scientists from the University of Tokyo, Yamaguchi University and other institutions has discovered a previously unknown blackish-green mineral in a jadeitite specimen from Okayama Prefecture. The team announced on Aug. 7 that the mineral was named Amaterasuite, after Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess in Japanese mythology. The new mineral is expected to contribute to studying a previously unknown jadeitite formation process. Small amounts of the new mineral were found in a jadeitite collected around Mt. Osa in Niimi, Okayama Prefecture, according to the research team. The team analyzed the mineral's elements and structure at facilities such as SPring-8, a synchrotron radiation facility operated by Riken, a national research and development agency. They found that the mineral consists of strontium, titanium and chlorine, possessing a unique structure previously unseen in other minerals. The International Mineralogical Association has officially recognized Amaterasuite as a new mineral. These findings were published in the Japan Association of Mineralogical Sciences' academic journal. Jadeite has been treasured in Japan since ancient times and is sometimes called the 'Jewel of the Orient.' In 2016, the association selected jadeite as Japan's national stone, symbolizing the nation's stone culture. The mineral forms where tectonic plates subduct. However, the exact process of its formation is not fully understood. 'By examining the elements and morphology of the new mineral, we can gain clues about how it transformed in a subduction zone where tectonic plates sink,' said Tohoku University Prof. Tatsuki Tsujimori, who specializes in geology and petrology.
Tokyo Weekender
13-08-2025
- Science
- Tokyo Weekender
New Mineral Discovered in Japan Named After Sun Goddess Amaterasu
Scientists in Japan have uncovered a new mineral hidden inside jadeite, the country's nationally designated stone. Named Amaterasuite after the sun goddess Amaterasu in Shinto mythology, the discovery was made by a joint team from the University of Tokyo, Yamaguchi University, Kyoto University, the Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, Rigaku Corporation and two amateur mineral collectors. The specimen came from jade deposits in the Osayama mountain area of Okayama Prefecture — a site not usually associated with rare mineral finds. A photo of Jadeite Hidden Within a Gem Amaterasuite is unlike any mineral previously documented. Its chemical formula combines strontium, titanium, silicon, oxygen, hydrogen and chlorine in a unique ratio, suggesting the presence of geological processes previously unknown to science. The mineral was found within jade, which is primarily made of jadeite. Jadeite forms under intense pressures in subduction zones, where tectonic plates collide and descend into the Earth's mantle. These extreme conditions not only produce jade's distinctive toughness and beauty but also make it a geological archive of the Earth's tectonic history. Jade — called hisui in Japanese — also holds special cultural status in Japan, having been used for tools, ornaments and ceremonial items for thousands of years. Its significance led to jade being named the country's national stone in 2016 by the Japan Association of Mineralogical Sciences. While other new minerals have been found in jade from Niigata Prefecture's Itoigawa region, Amaterasuite marks the first discovery of its kind in deposits found in Okayama Prefecture. Amaterasu: The Sun Goddess The mineral's name pays tribute to Amaterasu, the sun goddess and one of the most revered deities in Japanese mythology . She is a central figure in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki , Japan's oldest historical chronicles, and is believed to be the mythical ancestor of Japan's imperial family. As ruler of the heavens, Amaterasu embodies light, order and renewal. One of her most famous legends recounts how, after a quarrel with her storm god brother Susanoo no Mikoto, Amaterasu hid inside a cave, plunging the world into darkness. The other gods lured her out through a raucous celebration, restoring sunlight to the land. This myth is often interpreted as a symbol of rebirth and the return of hope. Discover Tokyo, Every Week Get the city's best stories, under-the-radar spots and exclusive invites delivered straight to your inbox. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy . Related Posts Japanese Mythology: The Shinto Creation Myth The Real-Life Locations Behind 3 Iconic Japanese Myths Japanese Scientists Develop Artificial Blood Compatible With All Blood Types
