Kamacite
Kamacite is an alloy of iron and nickel, which is found on Earth only in meteorites. According to the International Mineralogical Association (IMA) it is considered a proper nickel-rich variety of the mineral native iron. The proportion iron:nickel is between 90%:10% and 95%:5%; small quantities of other elements, such as cobalt or carbon may also be present. The mineral has a metallic luster, is gray and has no clear cleavage although its crystal structure is isometric-hexoctahedral. Its density is about 8 g/cm3 and its hardness is 4 on the Mohs scale. It is also sometimes called balkeneisen.
| Kamacite | |
|---|---|
Widmanstätten pattern showing the two forms of nickel-iron minerals, kamacite and taenite | |
| General | |
| Category | Meteorite mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | α-(Fe,Ni); Fe00.9Ni00.1 |
| Strunz classification | 1.AE.05 |
| Crystal system | Isometric |
| Crystal class | Hexoctahedral (m3m) H-M symbol: (4/m 3 2/m) |
| Space group | Im3m |
| Identification | |
| Formula mass | 56.13 g/mol |
| Color | Iron black, steel gray |
| Crystal habit | Massive – uniformly indistinguishable crystals forming large masses |
| Cleavage | Indistinct |
| Fracture | Hackly – Jagged, torn surfaces, (e.g. fractured metals). |
| Mohs scale hardness | 4 |
| Luster | Metallic |
| Streak | Gray |
| Specific gravity | 7.9 |
| Other characteristics | Non-radioactive, magnetic, Non-fluorescent. |
| References | |
The name was coined in 1861 and is derived from the Greek root καμακ- "kamak" or κάμαξ "kamaks", meaning vine-pole. It is a major constituent of iron meteorites (octahedrite and hexahedrite types). In the octahedrites it is found in bands interleaving with taenite forming Widmanstätten patterns. In hexahedrites, fine parallel lines called Neumann lines are often seen, which are evidence for structural deformation of adjacent kamacite plates due to shock from impacts.
At times kamacite can be found so closely intermixed with taenite that it is difficult to distinguish them visually, forming plessite. The largest documented kamacite crystal measured 92×54×23 cm (36.2×21.3×9.1 in).