PhD candidate Natalia Seliutina studies pounamu toughness for future space exploration
PhD candidate Natalia Seliutina has published research on the properties of pounamu gemstones in the New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics.
Research journey from Siberia to Taiwan
Seliutina tracked pounamu samples from -30 degree temperatures in Siberia to carving studios in Ōtepoti. She also examined the material inside particle accelerators located in Taiwan. Her goal is to determine why this stone ranks among the toughest natural materials on Earth.
Cultural roots and personal motivation
The researcher grew up in Russia where her grandmother told fairy tales featuring rocks as main characters. Nephrite jade remains an important part of the culture for Indigenous groups in the Southern Ural Mountains. Seliutina states that her attraction to geology stems from both conscious career choices and subconscious family influences.
Potential applications for space travel
Understanding the specific properties of pounamu could one day assist humanity in exploring space. The study was recently published in the New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics. Researchers believe geologists will always be needed for such scientific inquiries.
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