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South Dakota Mines researchers replicate Martian magma conditions, unearthing critical minerals in experiment

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South Dakota Mines researchers replicate Martian magma conditions, unearthing critical minerals in experiment


RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) – Space, an empty void with what we perceive to be big floating rocks lightyears apart from each other. An associate professor, along with a former graduate student at South Dakota Mines, have been able to simulate Martian conditions to discover surprising minerals around fumaroles on the red planet.

An astronomical finding related to geology could lead to a better understanding of the planetary composition of other planets in our solar system by experimentally mimicking the conditions of volcanic activity on those planets. That’s because without physical samples, there is only so much the scientific community can theorize when it comes to the minerals of that planet, but with this experiment and the replication of the degassing mechanisms, it is found that the Martian magmas are capable of producing various “critical” minerals such as germanium, zinc, and lithium.

“The volcanic activity that we simulated is bringing some of the critical minerals to the surface. We’ve figured out what minerals we can produce with this process, so now we know how to produce those alteration minerals on Mars. That’s something we know. This can be directly applicable as we try to model our earth and the processes of our earth’s geological processes,” explained South Dakota Mines associate professor for geology & geological engineering Dr. Gokce Ustunisik.

By using data collected by satellites and doing these experiments in a piston cylinder to replicate the pressures and temperatures needed to recreate the Martian magma, research shows that the volcanic processes that happen here on Earth are very similar to those on planets like Mars. Further helping pinpoint the area of research on the red planet if we were to send a manned mission in the near future.

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“So they will be going to different locations where we studied the Lucien and Gale craters, so they can collect more information from there, and then they can maybe right now get some data or samples from there,” explained Ustunisik.

While those missions are still way down the line, another key aspect of the findings involving the lab-made Martian magma is getting a better understanding of the hunk of rock we are on right now, Earth.

“We do these kinds of studies, especially experimental studies when we are studying the very early pieces of the planet and trying to understand how they get together to become a planet,” explained Ustunisik.

The research was funded by the NASA-Emerging Worlds grant and the South Dakota Space Consortium grant. But while the research continues to be worked on, these early findings bring us a little closer to understanding the geology of not only our planet but others in our solar system.

If you are interested in reading more about this particular experiment you can click on this link here or you can head to the South Dakota Mines website where you can get a full glimpse of the experiment.

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Mitchell town hall to be held at Dakota Wesleyan Wednesday night

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Mitchell town hall to be held at Dakota Wesleyan Wednesday night


SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Throughout April, South Dakota community leaders Nikki Gronli and Julian Beaudion hosted town halls across the state allowing people to raise the concerns they have with the Trump administration.

Now they are back by popular demand with the next one coming up Wednesday evening.

Gronli and Beaudion have previously held town halls in Rapid City, Aberdeen, Vermillion and Sioux Falls, and every one saw a massive crowd.

Now the tour heads to Mitchell.

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The popularity of the town halls resulted in changes in venues and people having to stand at meetings as attendees.

Panelists Nikki Gronli and Julian Beaudion delivered the 40-page report to South Dakota’s congressional delegation but only received feedback from Representative Dusty Johnson.

But both Gronli and Beaudion share optimism in the participation in political discourse throughout the state.

“What we saw from the citizens who attended these town halls is that there is still a lot of fight left in them, a lot of fight left in us, folks had no problem talking through some of the concerns,” Beaudion, a US Senate candidate said.

In previous meetings, attendees addressed concerns they had regarding cuts to Medicaid, the Department of Education, and from DOGE, as well as the effects of tariffs.

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Now they are prioritizing town halls being more focused on one issue, this starts Wednesday in Mitchell at Dakota Wesleyan University.

“There’s a great farm community, so we decided we would do this one focused as opposed to the last town halls which we allowed people to cover whatever topic they wanted to, we thought we would switch it up and see what the response is like,” Gronli said.

Gronli expects a lot of questions as to what the next farm bill will look like and when it will be passed, the current one has been extended twice and passed in 2018.

She will have the help of another former USDA staffer to answer questions throughout the night.

“I also expect having Marcia Bunger there on stage as the former risk management lead that there will be conversations about crop insurance, the importance to our ag producers and what policies are being made around crop insurance,” Gronli said.

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Dates haven’t been announced but town halls are planned for Brookings and Rapid City so far.

Dakota News Now reached out for comment to Senators Thune and Rounds and Representative Johnson, but we did not get a response in time for publication.



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SD Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life winning numbers for June 9, 2025

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The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at June 9, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from June 9 drawing

30-33-40-43-52, Powerball: 25, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from June 9 drawing

03-07-17-29-46, Lucky Ball: 15

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Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from June 9 drawing

06-14-35-44-49, Star Ball: 05, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

  • Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
  • Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
  • Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.

When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
  • Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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Komet Caisen Thome Commits to South Dakota

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Komet Caisen Thome Commits to South Dakota


The major local, regional and national news events, sports, weather conditions and traffic are examined and reported by the ABC 6 News Team.

(ABC 6 News) — After a strong senior campaign with the Kasson-Mantorville Komets, Caisen Thome will continue to play football at the Division I level, joining the University of South Dakota.

Thome originally signed with Iowa Western, but switched to follow in his father’s footsteps as a coyote. Caisen was featured as a Prep Athelte of the Week this past football season, you can watch his story here.

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