Oct. 27, 2008 A new technique using X-rays has enabled
scientists to play 'detective' and solve the debate about the
origins of a three billion year old rock fragment. In the study,
published in the journal Nature, a scientist describes the new
technique and shows how it can be used to analyse tiny samples
of molten rock called magma, yielding important clues about the
Earth's early history. Working in conjunction with Australian
and US scientists, an Imperial College London researcher
analysed a magma using the Chicago synchrotron, a kilometre
sized circular particle accelerator that is commonly used to
probe the structure of materials. In this case, the team used
its X-rays to investigate the chemistry of a rare type of
magmatic rock called a komatiite which was preserved for
billions of years in crystals. It has previously been difficult
to discover how these komatiites formed because earlier
analytical techniques lacked the power to provide key pieces of
information. Now, thanks to the new technique, the