Suessite

Suessite
General
CategoryIron silicide
Formula
(repeating unit)		Fe3Si
IMA symbolSss[1]
Strunz classification1.BB.05
Crystal systemCubic
Crystal classHexoctahedral (m3m)
H-M symbol: (4/m 3 2/m)
Space groupIm3m
Unit cella = 2.841 Å; Z = 0.5
Identification
ColorCream white in reflected light, Terrestrial is light gray with a yellow tint
Crystal habitforms oval accumulations, polycrystalline aggregates
CleavageNone
Specific gravity6.34
Optical propertiesX-ray Wavelength = 1.541838
Other characteristicsFerromagnetic,

degree of disorder = 11%, Curie point = 550°C, magnetic moment = 4.6 μB,

microhardness = 531–532 kg/mm2
References[2][3][4][5]

Suessite is a rare iron silicide mineral with chemical formula: Fe3Si.[6] The mineral was named after Professor Hans E. Suess. It was discovered in 1982 during the chemical analysis of The North Haig olivine pigeonite achondrite (ureilite). It is a cream white color in reflected light, and ranges in size from 1 μm "blebs" to elongated grains that can reach up to 0.45 cm in length.[7] This mineral belongs in the isometric crystal class. The isometric class has crystallographic axes that are all the same length and each of the three axes perpendicular to the other two. It is isotropic, has a structural type of DO3 and a crystal lattice of BiF3.[8]

  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ Keil, K.,Berkley, J.L., and Fuchs, L.H. (1982) Suessite, Fe3Si: a New Mineral in the North Haig Ureilite. American Mineralogist, 67, 126.
  3. ^ - (2010) "AMCSD Suessite." National Science Foundation <http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/AMS/result.php>. Accessed 29 September 2010.
  4. ^ Cabris, L.J., Fleischer, M., and Pabst, A. (1981) New Mineral Names. American Mineralogist, 66, 1099.
  5. ^ Norvgorodova, M.I., Yosopov, R.G., Dmitrieva, M.T., Tsepin, A.I., Sivtsov, A.V., Gorshkov, A.I., Korovoshkin, V.V., and Yakubovskaya, N.Y. (1984) First Occurrence of Suessite on the Earth. International Geology Review, 26, 98.
  6. ^ (2010) Suessite Glossary of Geology, American Geological Institute, <http://glossary.agiweb.org>. Accessed 13 September 2010.
  7. ^ Keil, K., Berkley, J. L., and Fuchs, L.H. (1982) Suessite, Fe3Si: a New Mineral in the North Haig Ureilite. American Mineralogist, 67, 126.
  8. ^ Norvgorodova, M.I., Yosopov, R.G., Dmitrieva, M.T., Tsepin, A.I., Sivtsov, A.V., Gorshkov, A.I., Korovoshkin, V.V., and Yakubovskaya, N.Y. (1984) First Occurrence of Suessite on the Earth. International Geology Review, 26, 98.