may be space rock older than anything on Earth

The rock, found in Russia's Koryak mountains, is a mysterious 'quasicrystal' - a kind of crystal discovered in synthetic materials in 1982. Until now, it was believed quasicrystals did not occur in nature - and all were man made

The rock, found in Russia's Koryak mountains, is a mysterious 'quasicrystal' - a kind of crystal discovered in synthetic materials in 1982.

Until now, it was believed quasicrystals did not occur in nature - and all were man made.

The mysterious rock fragment in Russia is only known natural quasicrystal on our planet.

The fragile crystalised fragment - known as a quasicrystal - is believed to be the remains of a meteorite that formed during the formation of the early solar system.
If correct, it is it older than any rock found so far on Earth's surface.

Researcher Paul Steinhardt of Princeton University said: 'Analysis of the oxygen isotope in the rock indicate it is a fragment of a meteorite formed at the formation of the solar system over 4.5 billion years ago.'

http://thebeerbarrel.net/showthread.php?11125-Impossible-Crystal-Found-in-Russia