Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Messageboard The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Mineral Chatroom The Mindat Store

Kamacite

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Big Photo

Gibeon meteorite, Great Namaqualand, Hardap Region, Namibia
© Marco Barsanti

Show Kamacite Photos (34)



Formula:
(Fe,Ni)
System:IsometricColour:Grey
Lustre:MetallicHardness:4
Name:From the Greek "kamask" meaning "shaft" or "lath".
A variety of Iron

A nickel-rich variety of iron.
The principle constituent of a typical octahedrite meteorite with about 92% iron and 7% nickel.

Compare also taenite.

Classification of Kamacite

Strunz 8th edition ID:1/A.07-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:1.AE.05

1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
A : Metals and Intermetallic Alloys
E : Iron-chromium family
Dana 7th edition ID:1.1.17.3
Dana 8th edition ID:1.1.11.1

1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
1 : Metals, other than the Platinum Group
Hey's CIM Ref.:1.62

1 : Elements and Alloys (including the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au)
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-2143.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Physical Properties of Kamacite

Lustre:Metallic
Colour:Grey
Streak:Grey
Hardness (Mohs):4

Crystallography of Kamacite

Crystal System:Isometric
Cell Parameters:a = 2.86Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 23.39 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Kamacite

Type:Isotropic

Chemical Properties of Kamacite

Formula:
(Fe,Ni)
Essential elements:Fe
All elements listed in formula:Fe, Ni
Common Impurities:Co,C,P,S

Relationship of Kamacite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
1.AE.05Molybdenum
Mo
1.AE.05Chromium
Cr
1.AE.05Iron
Fe
1.AE.05Tungsten
W
1.AE.05UM2001-06-E:CrFeNi
Fe
 
7
Cr
 
2
Ni
1.AE.10Taenite
(Fe,Ni)
1.AE.10Tetrataenite
FeNi
1.AE.10Antitaenite
Fe
 
3
Ni
1.AE.15Chromferide
Fe
 
3
Cr
 
1-x
 (x=0.6)
1.AE.15Ferchromide
Cr
 
1.5
Fe
 
0.5-x
1.AE.15Wairauite
CoFe
1.AE.20Awaruite
Ni
 
3
Fe
1.AE.25Jedwabite
Fe
 
7
(Ta,Nb)
 
3
1.AE.30Manganese
Mn
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
1.1Copper
Cu
1.2Silver
Ag
1.5Gold
Au
1.6Auricupride
Cu
 
3
Au
1.7Tetra-auricupride
AuCu
1.8Zinc
Zn
1.9Cadmium
Cd
1.10Danbaite
CuZn
 
2
1.11Zhanghengite
CuZn
1.12Mercury
Hg
1.13Kolymite
Cu
 
7
Hg
 
6
1.14Moschellandsbergite
Ag
 
2
Hg
 
3
1.15Eugenite
Ag
 
11
Hg
 
2
1.16Schachnerite
Ag
 
1.1
Hg
 
0.9
1.17Paraschachnerite
Ag
 
3
Hg
 
2
1.18Luanheite
Ag
 
3
Hg
1.19Weishanite
(Au,Ag)
 
3
Hg
 
2
1.20Indium
In
1.21Aluminium
Al
1.22Khatyrkite
(Cu,Zn)Al
 
2
1.23Cupalite
(Cu,Zn)Al
1.24Diamond
C
1.25Graphite
C
1.26Chaoite
C
1.27Lonsdaleite
C
1.28Silicon
Si
1.29Tin
Sn
1.30Lead
Pb
1.31Anyuiite
Au(Pb,Sb)
 
2
1.31Novodneprite
AuPb
 
3
1.32Leadamalgam
HgPb
 
2
1.33Arsenic
As
1.34Arsenolamprite
As
1.35Paxite
CuAs
 
2
1.36Koutekite
Cu
 
5
As
 
2
1.37Domeykite
Cu
 
3
As
1.38Algodonite
(Cu
 
1-x
As
 
x
)
1.39Novakite
Cu
 
20
AgAs
 
10
1.40Kutinaite
Cu
 
2
AgAs
1.41Antimony
Sb
1.42Stibarsen
AsSb
1.43Paradocrasite
Sb
 
3
As
1.44Horsfordite
Cu, Sb
1.45Cuprostibite
Cu
 
2
(Sb,Tl)
1.46Allargentum
(Ag
 
1-x
Sb
 
x
)
1.47Aurostibite
AuSb
 
2
1.48Dyscrasite
Ag
 
3
Sb
1.49Bismuth
Bi
1.50Maldonite
Au
 
2
Bi
1.51Sulphur
S
 
8
1.52Rosickýite
S
1.53Selenium
Se
1.54Tellurium
Te
1.55Chromium
Cr
1.56Rhenium
Re
1.57Iron
Fe
1.58Chromferide
Fe
 
3
Cr
 
1-x
 (x=0.6)
1.59Ferchromide
Cr
 
1.5
Fe
 
0.5-x
1.60Wairauite
CoFe
1.61Nickel
Ni
1.63Taenite
(Fe,Ni)
1.64Tetrataenite
FeNi
1.65Awaruite
Ni
 
3
Fe
1.66Palladium
(Pd,Pt)
1.67Potarite
PdHg
1.68Paolovite
Pd
 
2
Sn
1.69Stannopalladinite
(Pd,Cu)
 
3
Sn
 
2
1.70Cabriite
Pd
 
2
SnCu
1.71Taimyrite
(Pd,Cu,Pt)
 
3
Sn
1.72Atokite
(Pd,Pt)
 
3
Sn
1.73Rustenburgite
(Pt,Pd)
 
3
Sn
1.74Zvyagintsevite
(Pd,Pt,Au)
 
3
(Pb,Sn)
1.75Plumbopalladinite
Pd
 
3
Pb
 
2
1.76Osmium
(Os,Ir,Ru)
1.77Iridium
(Ir,Os,Ru)
1.82Platinum
Pt
1.83Hongshiite
PtCu
1.84Niggliite
PtSn
1.85Isoferroplatinum
Pt
 
3
Fe
1.86Tetraferroplatinum
PtFe
1.87Tulameenite
Pt
 
2
CuFe
1.88Ferronickelplatinum
Pt
 
2
FeNi
1.89Rhodium
(Rh,Pt)
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping):

- +
1.1.17.1Iron
Fe
1.1.17.2Nickel
Ni
1.1.17.4Taenite
(Fe,Ni)
1.1.17.5Tetrataenite
FeNi
1.1.17.6Awaruite
Ni
 
3
Fe
1.1.17.6Hexaferrum
(Fe,Os,Ru,Ir)

Other Names for Kamacite

Other Languages:
German:Balkeneisen
Kamacit
Nickel-Eisen
Simplified Chinese:铁纹石
Spanish:Kamacita

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 Kamacite

Reference List:

- +
Geochemica et Cosmochimica Acta: 29: 535-549.

Buchwald (1975), Handbook of iron meteorites, I-III.

Clark (1993): 350.

Burke, Ernest A.J. (2007) A Mass Discreditation of GQN Minerals. Canadian Mineralogist: 44(6): 1557-1560.

Internet Links for Kamacite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Kamacite on Google
  • Look for Kamacite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Kamacite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • Kamacite specimens for sale - minfind.com
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • SpiriferMinerals.com - high quality low prices
  • Search for minerals at Heliodor
  • Fine and rare minerals from mintreasure.com
  • Buy minerals from YourMineralCollection
  • Search for Kamacite on Well-Arranged Molecules
  • Fine Minerals from Weinrich Minerals, Inc.
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Localities for Kamacite

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    Show Locality List (179 Items)
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Search Google
     
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2011. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them. Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
    Current server date and time: 12th Aug 2011 01:50:03
    Mineral and Locality Search
    Mineral:
    and/or Locality:
    Options
    Fade toolbar when not in focusFix toolbar to bottom of page
    Hide Social Media Links
    Slideshow frame delay seconds