Taenite | |
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![]() Widmanstätten patterns of kamacite and taenite, from a meteorite currently in the Natural History Museum, London. | |
General | |
Category | Metals and intermetallic alloys |
Formula (repeating unit) | γ-(Ni,Fe) |
IMA symbol | Tae[1] |
Strunz classification | 1.AE.10 |
Crystal system | Isometric |
Crystal class | Hexoctahedral (m3m) H-M symbol: (4/m 3 2/m) |
Space group | Fm3m |
Identification | |
Color | metallic grayish to white |
Cleavage | None |
Fracture | Hackly fracture |
Tenacity | Malleable, flexible |
Mohs scale hardness | 5–5.5 |
Luster | metallic |
Streak | light gray |
Diaphaneity | Opaque |
Specific gravity | 7.8–8.22 |
Other characteristics | magnetic, not radioactive |
References | [2][3] |
Taenite is a mineral found naturally on Earth mostly in iron meteorites. It is an alloy of iron and nickel, with a chemical formula of Fe,Ni and nickel proportions of 20% up to 65%.
The name is derived from the Greek ταινία for "band, ribbon". Taenite is a major constituent of iron meteorites. In octahedrites it is found in bands interleaving with kamacite forming Widmanstätten patterns, whereas in ataxites it is the dominant constituent. In octahedrites a fine intermixture with kamacite can occur, which is called plessite.
Taenite is one of four known Fe-Ni meteorite minerals: The others are kamacite, tetrataenite, and antitaenite.
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