Haxonite
- IMA 1971-001
Haxonit is a very rarely occurring meteoritic mineral from the mineral class of " Element Minerals ". It crystallizes in a cubic crystal system having the composition ( Fe, Ni) 23C6, and is therefore viewed chemically is a iron-nickel carbide. The items shown in the parentheses in the formula can each represent each other (substitution, Diadochie ), but are always in the same proportions to the other components of the mineral.
Haxonit is also in thin layers of opaque (opaque ) and developed exclusively microscopic crystallites in massive aggregates of silver to zinnweißer color and metallic luster.
Special Features
Haxonit as cohenite under terrestrial conditions unstable and decomposes very slowly in the minerals kamacite and graphite.
Etymology and history
Haxonit was named after the English metallurgists Howard J. Axon ( 1924-1992 ). This has been described mineral 1971 ERD Scott, who was able to prove it in Toluca, Mexico meteorite and in the American Canyon Diablo meteorite. Therefore both meteorites are also considered type locality for this mineral.
Classification
In the now outdated but still in use 8th edition of the mineral classification by Strunz the Haxonit where he along with cohenite, Hongquiit, Isovit, Khamrabaevit, Niobocarbid, tantalum and Tongbait the unnamed group belonged to the department of " metals, alloys and intermetallic compounds ," I/A.09 formed.
The 9th edition used since 2001 and valid by the International Mineralogical Association (IMA ) of the Strunz'schen Mineral classification assigns the Haxonit other hand, in the newly defined division of the " Metallic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus compounds " one. This division, however, is further subdivided by the connection characterizing connection Spartans, so that the mineral is found according to its composition in the subdivision of the " Carbide ", where it forms the unnamed group 1.BA.10 together with Isovit.
The mostly commonly used in English-speaking classification of minerals according to Dana assigns the Haxonit also in the class of " Element Minerals " and then in the same department. Here he is with cohenite and Isovit in the unnamed group 01:01:16 within the subdivision " elements: except the platinum group metallic elements " to be found.
Education and Locations
Haxonit is a constituent of iron meteorites. Accompanying minerals occur among others kamacite, taenite, schreibersite, cohenite, pentlandite, and magnetite.
The mineral has yet been found in other meteorites such as the Xinjiang iron meteorite in China, the Nagyvázsony meteorite in the Hungarian Bakony and the Edmonton, Tazewell and the Deport - meteorites ( Red River County) in the USA.
Crystal structure
Haxonit crystallizes in cubic space group Fm3m ( Raumgruppen-Nr. 225 ) with the lattice parameters a = 10.55 Å and four formula units per unit cell.