What scientists have now discovered is a new mineral that is unique in structure and composition among the world's 4,000 known mineral species. The mineral has been discovered in Western Australia. The new mineral has been reported to be found in a surface outcrop at Lake Cowan, north of Norseman in Western Australia. It occurs as tiny crystals with size of no more than 0.5 mm in diameter.

It was found on a volcanic rock and its appearance is very similar to dark pink spots on dark green and white rock. These appear as square, cube-like crystals under the microscope. A visiting research fellow at the University of Adelaide has described the mineral 'Putnisite' in Mineralogical Magazine.

The elements it combines are strontium, calcium, chromium, sulphur, carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. Well, the combination is really unusual, but this is what that has been found to have existed.

As far as its practical uses are concerned, researchers need some more time to figure out what all applications it would be suitable for. The name of Putnisite is inspired from names of Australian mineralogists Andrew and Christine Putnis.

"What defines a mineral is its chemistry and crystallography. By x-raying a single crystal of mineral you are able to determine its crystal structure and this, in conjunction with chemical analysis, tells you everything you need to know about the mineral", said Dr. Elliott.

Most minerals are associated with a family or small groups of related minerals. And if they do not belong to other minerals then they often relate to a synthetic compound. However, putnisite is a mineral that does not relate to anything and that is why completely unique. The measured density of the mineral is 2.20 g/cm3 and a calculated density is 2.23 g/cm3, whereas a Mohs hardness of the mineral is between 1.5 and 2.

Dr. Elliott concluded that nature is far cleverer at creating ne chemicals than any researchers in a laboratory.