Transmission electron microscopy on meteoritic troilite

Abstract

Phase transitions and associated domains of meteoritic troilite (FeS) have been studied by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Three polymorphs have been found, two of which can be described by superstructures of the NiAs-type structure (A, C subcell). The P\(\overline 6\)2c (√3A, 2C) polymorph, stable at room temperature, displays antiphase domains with the displacement vector 1/3 . In situ heating experiments showed that the P\(\overline 6\)2c polymorph changes at temperatures of 115°–150° C into an orthorhombic pseudohexagonal transitional phase with the probable space group Pmcn (A,√3A, C). It contains antiphase domains with the displacement vector 1/2 [110] and twins with a threefold twin-axis parallel c. When heated above 210° C the transitional phase transforms into the high-temperature modification with NiAs structure (P63/mmc). All observed phase transitions are reversible. The occurrence of antiphase and twin domains, respectively, agrees with the symmetry reductions involved in the subsolidus phase transitions. This is demonstrated by group-subgroup relationships among the space groups P63/mmc, Pmcn, and P\(\overline 6\)2c.