Scientists have discovered a new mineral, one never before seen in nature, lodged inside a meteorite found near Wedderburn in central Victoria.

They believe the mineral was likely forged in the molten core of an ancient planet long since destroyed.

Dr Stuart Mills with the Wedderburn meteorite. Scientists have discovered a new mineral buried inside it, forged in the core of a planet that no longer exists. Credit:Justin McManus

The meteorite is red and black and deeply scarred from its million-year-plus journey, and certainly looks the part. The mineral it contains has been christened edscottite.

The mineral was found after close examination of the Wedderburn Meteorite, a lemon-sized chunk of metal found just outside Wedderburn in 1951, and now a part of Museums Victoria’s collection.