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Melliniite

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NWA 1054 meteorite, Erfoud (Erfud), Er Rachidia Province, Meknès-Tafilalet Region, Morocco
© Prato Ricerche

Formula:
(Ni,Fe)
 
4
P
System:IsometricHardness:8 - 8½
Name:Honouring Prof. Marcello Mellini, Mineralogist in the Universities of Perugia, Pisa and Siena, for his development of meteorite studies in Italy
This page provides mineralogical data about Melliniite.

Classification of Melliniite

IMA status:Approved 2005
Strunz 8th edition ID:1/A.11-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:1.BD.20

1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
B : Metallic Carbides, Silicides, Nitrides and Phosphides
D : Phosphides
Dana 7th edition ID:1.1.31.4
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-28998.html
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Type Occurrence of Melliniite

Type Locality:NWA 1054 meteorite, Erfoud (Erfud), Er Rachidia Province, Meknès-Tafilalet Region, Morocco
General Appearance of Type Material:anhedral to subhedral grains up to 100 µm across
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Museum of Planetary Science, Prato, Italy (No. MSP2366)
Geological Setting of type material:Primitive acapulcoite achondrite with low terrestrial weathering grade and shock stage
Associated Minerals at type locality:
NickelphosphideKamacite

Physical Properties of Melliniite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Streak:Grey
Hardness (Mohs):8 - 8½
Hardness (Vickers):VHN500=440 - 454 kg/mm2
Tenacity:Brittle
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven
Density (measured):7.882 g/cm3
Density (calculated):7.88 g/cm3

Crystallography of Melliniite

Crystal System:Isometric
Class (H-M):2 3 - Tetartoidal
Space Group:P21 3
Cell Parameters:a = 6.025Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 218.71 ų
Z:4

Optical Data of Melliniite

Type:Isotropic
Bireflectance:No bireflectance
Reflectivity:
471.1nmR=60.56%
548.3nmR=50.44%
586.6nmR=52.51%
652.3nmR=55.94%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 60.56%.
Colour in reflected light:Cream-yellowish
Internal Reflections:None
Pleochroism:Non-pleochroic

Chemical Properties of Melliniite

Formula:
(Ni,Fe)
 
4
P
All elements listed in formula:Fe, Ni, P

Relationship of Melliniite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
1.BD.05Schreibersite
(Fe,Ni)
 
3
P
1.BD.05Nickelphosphide
(Ni,Fe)
 
3
P
1.BD.10Barringerite
(Fe,Ni)
 
2
P
1.BD.15Florenskyite
FeTiP
1.BD.15Allabogdanite
(Fe,Ni)
 
2
P
1.BD.15Andreyivanovite
FeCrP
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping):

- +
1.1.31.1Barringerite
(Fe,Ni)
 
2
P
1.1.31.2Schreibersite
(Fe,Ni)
 
3
P
1.1.31.3Nickelphosphide
(Ni,Fe)
 
3
P

Other Names for Melliniite

Synonyms:
IMA2005-027
Other Languages:
Russian:Меллиниит

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Melliniite

Reference List:Moggi-Cecchi, V., Bindi, L., Pratesi, G. (2005): "A new iron-nickel phosphide from the Northwest Africa 1054 Meteorite", 68th Annual Meteoritical Society Meeting, 5308.

Pratesi, G., Bindi, L., Moggi-Cecchi, V. (2006): "Icosahedral coordination of phosphorus in the crystal structure of melliniite, a new phosphide mineral from the Northwest Africa (NWA) 1054 acapulcoite", American Mineralogist 91, 451-454.

Internet Links for Melliniite

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    Localities for Melliniite

    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Morocco
     
    • Meknès-Tafilalet Region
      • Er Rachidia Province
        • Erfoud (Erfud)
    		V. Moggi-Cecchi et al., 2005
    V. Moggi-Cecchi et al., 2005
    Mineral and/or Locality
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