The mineralogy of iron meteorites

Abstract

The status of research on the mineralogy of meteorites about 1876 is compared with that of 1976. The ratio of iron meteorites to other meteorites in collections was then, and is now, about 1:2. However, total accumulated mass of iron meteorites exceeds that of stones by a factor 15. Forty-one well-established minerals in iron meteorites are discussed utilizing twelve tables, presenting the elements, carbides, nitrides, phosphides, sulphides, oxides, phosphates and silicates. The detailed compositions of kamacite, taenite and troilite are discussed, and the ranges in composition of several other minerals are given. Unequilibrated phases, such as a α 2 -iron, and shock-transformation products, such as diamond, are briefly mentioned. Finally, the products of terrestrial weathering are discussed, and it is shown that lawrencite in iron meteorites is a dubious phenomenon and not a cosmic mineral.