Phosphate Minerals in Meteorites and Lunar Rocks

Abstract

Phosphorus is in meteorites and lunar rocks a minor, but in many respects important element. It occurs chemically bound as phosphates and phosphides, and it occurs in solid solution in the iron-nickel alloys kamacite and taenite. Broadly speaking, the phosphates are characteristic of the stone meteorites and of the inclusion-rich parts of the iron meteorites, while the phosphides, i.e., schreibersite and rhabdite, (Fe, Ni)3P, are mainly present in iron meteorites. In pallasites, phosphates, and phosphides occur together in significant amounts.