Telluric iron | |
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General | |
Category | Native element mineral |
Formula (repeating unit) | Fe |
Strunz classification | 1.AE.05 |
Dana classification | 1.1.17.1 |
Crystal system | Cubic |
Crystal class | Hexoctahedral (m3m) H-M symbol: (4/m 3 2/m) |
Space group | Im3m |
Unit cell | a = 2.8664 Å; Z = 2 |
Identification | |
Color | Steel-gray to iron-black, white in polished section |
Crystal habit | Massive, as interstitial blebs, rare as crystals |
Twinning | On {111} and on {112} |
Cleavage | {001}; with parting on {112} |
Fracture | Hackly |
Tenacity | Malleable |
Mohs scale hardness | 4 |
Luster | Metallic |
Diaphaneity | Opaque |
Specific gravity | 7.3–7.87 |
References | [1][2][3] |
Telluric iron, also called native iron, is iron that originated on Earth, and is found in a metallic form rather than as an ore. Telluric iron is extremely rare, with only one known major deposit in the world, located in Greenland.