Renowned diamond explorer and scholar Graham Pearson, known for his work in various regions from the coalfields of northern England to the Arctic and the jungles of Brazil, has been honored with a newly discovered mineral named after him. The International Mineralogical Association recently approved the naming of a mineral found inside a deep-Earth diamond in Brazil as Grahampearsonite. Pearson, a mantle geochemist at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, is recognized as a leading expert in mantle geology and mineralogy, with a focus on diamonds and their insights into the Earth’s interior.
Grahampearsonite, with a chemical composition of calcium, phosphorus, and oxygen, was unearthed in Brazil’s Juina region from a diamond formed at depths exceeding 300 kilometers beneath the Earth’s surface. Initially known as a synthetic material, similar to calcium pyrophosphate used in toothpaste abrasive, this mineral was identified naturally for the first time. Through X-ray analysis, researchers observed the crystal structure of Grahampearsonite within the diamond, leading to its official naming in December as a tribute to Pearson’s significant contributions to diamond research.
Pearson, hailing from a mining town in the UK, has dedicated his career to studying diamonds and the Earth’s deep interior. His expertise extends to developing innovative techniques for geochemical analysis and dating geological samples. Emphasizing the importance of ongoing mineral discoveries, Pearson highlights the unique capabilities of diamonds to retain deep Earth elements, shedding light on plate tectonic cycles. With advancements in microscope technology, the identification of new minerals continues to progress, with an estimated 4,000 more minerals awaiting discovery to complement the existing 4,800 known minerals.
