Incredibly Rare Mineral Discovered In Wisconsin Meteor Crater

One of the rarest minerals on earth has been found in a western Wisconsin meteorite crater.

The mineral, known as reidite, is created by the extreme heat and pressure from a meteorite strike. It has only been found in three other places on earth.

Researchers and students from the University of Puerto Rico made the discovery while studying the ancient crater formed when a meteorite struck what is now Pierce County around 450 million years ago. They wanted to see how ancient impact sites erode over time.

Dr. Aaron Cavosie said when they looked at routine samples under an electron microscope, they found the mineral.

“To be able to find evidence that this incredibly rare mineral can actually be preserved over hundreds of millions of years, and here it is in Wisconsin, that’s actually spectacular,” said Cavosie.