The discovery of hafnium . To Dr Alexander Scott , FRS , the Director of Research at the British Museum , has fallen the great distinction of discovering a new element - Hafnium . The story of the discovery goes back to the year 1913 , when Dr Scott first began an analysis of a black sand brought from New Zealand , this he discovered to contain a small quantity of a quite " new oxide " . Dr Alexander Scott at work in his laboratory in London . 16 February 1923