Telluric iron

Telluric iron
Sawed slab of basalt with bright, metallic native-iron inclusions from Uivfaq, Disko Island (specimen size: 7.8 cm × 3.5 cm × 0.6 cm (3.07 in × 1.38 in × 0.24 in))
General
CategoryNative element mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
Fe
Strunz classification1.AE.05
Dana classification1.1.17.1
Crystal systemCubic
Crystal classHexoctahedral (m3m)
H-M symbol: (4/m 3 2/m)
Space groupIm3m
Unit cella = 2.8664 Å; Z = 2
Identification
ColorSteel-gray to iron-black, white in polished section
Crystal habitMassive, as interstitial blebs, rare as crystals
TwinningOn {111} and on {112}
Cleavage{001}; with parting on {112}
FractureHackly
TenacityMalleable
Mohs scale hardness4
LusterMetallic
DiaphaneityOpaque
Specific gravity7.3–7.87
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.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference HBM-iron was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference MinDat-2047 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference WebMineral-Iron was invoked but never defined (see the help page).