Superconductivity and magnetism in naturally occurring minerals

ORAL

Abstract

In a new and unique venture in collaboration with the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History's Department of Mineral Sciences, we present preliminary results from a project focusing on the search for superconductivity in mineral specimens provided by Geologists/Curators of the Smithsonian Institution. Including magnetization and transport studies of Wittichenite, Pyrrhotite, Nagyagite, Pyrargyrite and other related compounds, we report preliminary findings of the physical properties of mineral specimens at low temperatures, including several unreported magnetic phases and unconvetional behaviors.

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Authors

  • Renxiong Wang

    • Department of Physics, University of Maryland College Park
    • Center for Nanophysics and Advanced Materials, Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742

  • S.R. Saha

    • Department of Physics, University of Maryland College Park

  • Xiangfeng Wang

    • Department of Physics, University of Maryland College Park

  • R.L. Greene

    • Department of Physics, University of Maryland College Park

  • J. Paglione

    • Department of Physics, University of Maryland College Park

  • C. Santelli

    • Department of Mineral Sciences, Smithsonian Museum of Natural History

  • J. Post

    • Department of Mineral Sciences, Smithsonian Museum of Natural History