| Panethite | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Category | Phosphate minerals |
| Formula (repeating unit) | (Na,Ca)2(Mg,Fe)2(PO4)2 |
| IMA symbol | Pne[1] |
| Strunz classification | 8.AC.65 |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
| Crystal class | Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol) |
| Space group | P21/n |
| Identification | |
| Color | Amber |
| Twinning | Simple twinning |
| Specific gravity | 2.90-3.0 |
| Optical properties | Biaxial(-) |
| Refractive index | α=1.567, β=1.576, γ = 1.579 all ±0.001 |
| Birefringence | +0.009 (B-G interval) |
| References | [2][3] |
Panethite, chemical formula (Na,Ca)2(Mg,Fe)2(PO4)2, is a rare phosphate mineral that was only found in one meteorite on Earth. It was originally found in the Dayton meteorite in Ohio. It is classified as H-M symbol (2/m) with space group of P21/n. It is amber in color. It was named in the honor of Friedrich Adolf Paneth (1887–1958), a German chemist who made many contributions toward the discovery of the origin of the universe, and especially studies of meteorites.