The Fe analogue of garutiite, hexamolybdenum, osmium, and ruthenium. Said to represent a continuous solid solution, and Ir-, Os- and Ru-rich varieties are desribed.

It was defined by Mochalov et al. (1998) as a hexagonal close-packed (hcp) Fe mineral containing amounts of Ru, Os, or Ir. Cabri & Aiglsperger (2018) has re-examined hexaferrum together with a review of the phase chemistry in the Fe-Ni-Ir and Fe-Ru-Ir systems. They conclude that "the hcp (Fe,Ir) mineral correponds to the ε-phase of Raub et al. (1964) and should be differentiated from hexaferrum [(Fe,Os) and (Fe,Ru)] because it is separated by one to two miscibility gaps and therefore is not a continuous solid solution with Fe".

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

6992

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:6992:8

GUID
(UUID V4):

9d30113c-b89f-4ef5-b782-0b8a2e0328c5

Classification of HexaferrumHide

IMA status:

Approved

Approval year:

1995

Strunz-mindat (2023):

1.AG.05

1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
A : Metals and Intermetallic Alloys
G : PGE-metal alloys

Dana 7th ed.:

1.1.17.6

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Symbol	Source	Reference
Hfe	IMA–CNMNC	Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of HexaferrumHide

Lustre:

Metallic

Transparency:

Opaque

Colour:

steel-gray with yellow tint

Streak:

Black

Hardness:

6 - 7 on Mohs scale

Hardness:

VHN₁₀₀=629 - 679 - Vickers

Comment:

the above is VHN50 for Ru-variety; Os-variety: 741-880

Tenacity:

Brittle

Cleavage:

None Observed

Density:

10.69 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of HexaferrumHide

Anisotropism:

strong, blue-gray to muddy-brown yellow polarization colors (Ru variety); weak (Os & Ir variety)

Bireflectance:

not observed in Os- and Ir-rich variety

Reflectivity:

Wavelength	R₁	R₂
480nm	49.8%	41.9%
560nm	51.1%	42.0%
580nm	51.4%	42.0%
660nm	53.4%	43.0%

Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 53.4%.
R₁ shown in black, R₂ shown in red

Colour in reflected light:

light gray to white (Ru variety); white (Os variety); white to light gray (Ir variety)

Comments:

Reflectance for the Os-rich variety: 55.1 (480nm), 53.4 (560nm), 53.2 (580nm), 54.7 (660nm)

Chemical Properties of HexaferrumHide

Formula:

(Fe,Os,Ru,Ir)

Elements listed:

Fe, Ir, Os, Ru - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of HexaferrumHide

Crystal System:

Hexagonal

Class (H-M):

6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal

Space Group:

P6₃/mmc

Cell Parameters:

a = 2.64(1) Å, c = 4.20(2) Å

Ratio:

a:c = 1 : 1.591

Unit Cell V:

25.35 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Crystal StructureHide

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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure

ID	Species	Reference	Link	Year	Locality	Pressure (GPa)	Temp (K)
0020235	Hexaferrum	Mochalov A G, Dmitrenko G G, Rudashevsky N S, Zhernovsky I V, Boldyreva M M (1998) Hexaferrum (Fe,Ru),(Fe,Os),(Fe,Ir) - a new mineral Zapiski Vserossijskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva 127 41-51		1998	Chirynaisky Massif, Koryak Mts, Far-Eastern Region, Russia	0	293
0020236	Hexaferrum	Mochalov A G, Dmitrenko G G, Rudashevsky N S, Zhernovsky I V, Boldyreva M M (1998) Hexaferrum (Fe,Ru),(Fe,Os),(Fe,Ir) - a new mineral Zapiski Vserossijskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva 127 41-51		1998	Chirynaisky Massif, Koryak Mts, Far-Eastern Region, Russia	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Hexaferrum'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Mochalov A G'
'Dmitrenko G G'
'Rudashevsky N S'
'Zhernovsky I V'
'Boldyreva M M'
_journal_name_full 'Zapiski Vserossijskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva'
_journal_volume 127 
_journal_year 1998
_journal_page_first 41
_journal_page_last 51
_publ_section_title
;
 Hexaferrum (Fe,Ru),(Fe,Os),(Fe,Ir) - a new mineral
 Note: sample 48-126
;
_database_code_amcsd 0020235
_chemical_compound_source 'Chirynaisky Massif, Koryak Mts, Far-Eastern Region, Russia'
_chemical_formula_sum 'Fe.49 Ru.34 Os.1 Ir.05'
_cell_length_a 2.64
_cell_length_b 2.64
_cell_length_c 4.20
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 90
_cell_angle_gamma 120
_cell_volume 25.351
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn     11.838
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'P 63/m m c'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  '-x,-x+y,1/2+z'
  'x,x-y,1/2-z'
  '-x+y,-x,1/2-z'
  'x-y,x,1/2+z'
  '-y,-x,z'
  'y,x,-z'
  'y,-x+y,-z'
  '-y,x-y,z'
  'x-y,-y,1/2+z'
  '-x+y,y,1/2-z'
  'x,y,1/2-z'
  '-x,-y,1/2+z'
  'x,x-y,z'
  '-x,-x+y,-z'
  'x-y,x,-z'
  '-x+y,-x,z'
  'y,x,1/2+z'
  '-y,-x,1/2-z'
  '-y,x-y,1/2-z'
  'y,-x+y,1/2+z'
  '-x+y,y,z'
  'x-y,-y,-z'
  '-x,-y,-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_occupancy
Fe   0.33333   0.66667   0.25000   0.49000
Ru   0.33333   0.66667   0.25000   0.34000
Os   0.33333   0.66667   0.25000   0.10000
Ir   0.33333   0.66667   0.25000   0.05000

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
2.28/2.246/2.254 Å	(50)
2.10/2.087/2.103 Å	(60/60/70)
2.006/1.976/1.993 Å	(100)
1.549/-/1.542 Å	(30/-/40)
-/1.528/- Å	(40)
1.316/1.297/1.304 Å	(30/60/50)
1.195/1.180/1.192 Å	(30/60/40)
-/1.100/1.110 Å	(-/50/40)
-/1.083 Å	(30)

Comments:

Ru/Os/Ir varieties; b - broad

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
Near-surface Processes
26 : Hadean detrital minerals
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks	>3.0
36 : Carbonatites, kimberlites, and related igneous rocks
37 : Layered igneous intrusions and related PGE minerals

Type Occurrence of HexaferrumHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Chirynaisky Massif, Koryak Okrug, Kamchatka Krai, Russia

General Appearance of Type Material:

Cubic or octahedral crystals, up to 200 µm (usually 5–50 µm), as inclusions in Cr spinel

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

Mining Museum of Saint Petersburg Mining Institute, Russia

Geological Setting of Type Material:

dunite-harzburgite massif

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Zinc	Tulameenite	Rutheniridium	Pentlandite	Oregonite
Laurite	Iron	Iridosmine	Copper	Awaruite

Synonyms of HexaferrumHide

IMA1995-032

Other Language Names for HexaferrumHide

Russian:Гексаферрум

Varieties of HexaferrumHide

Hexaferrum-(Fe,Ir)	A variety of Hexaferrum rich in Iridium
Hexaferrum-(Fe,Os)	A variety of Hexaferrum rich in Osmium.
Hexaferrum-(Fe,Ru)	A variety of Hexaferrum rich in Ruthenium

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

1.AG.	Michitoshiite-(Cu)	Rh(Cu_1-xGe_x)	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Pm3m
1.AG.	Palladothallite	Pd₃Tl	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4/mmm
1.AG.	Sluzhenikinite	Pd₁₅(Sb_7-xSn_x)	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
1.AG.	Driekopite	PtBi	Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6₃/mmc
1.AG.	Sidorovite	Fe₃Pt	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Pm3m
1.AG.05	Garutiite	(Ni,Fe,Ir)	Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6₃/mmc
1.AG.10	Atokite	(Pd,Pt)₃Sn	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m
1.AG.10	Rustenburgite	(Pt,Pd)₃Sn	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m
1.AG.10	Zvyagintsevite	Pd₃Pb	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Pm3n
1.AG.15	Taimyrite	(Pd,Cu,Pt)₃Sn	Orth.
1.AG.15	Tatyanaite	(Pt,Pd,Cu)₉Cu₃Sn₄	Orth.
1.AG.20	Paolovite	Pd₂Sn	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
1.AG.25	Plumbopalladinite	Pd₃Pb₂	Hex. 6mm : P6₃mc
1.AG.25	Stannopalladinite	(Pd,Cu)₃Sn₂	Hex.
1.AG.30	Cabriite	Pd₂CuSn	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmmm
1.AG.35	Chengdeite	Ir₃Fe	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m)
1.AG.35	Isoferroplatinum	Pt₃Fe	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m)
1.AG.40	Ferronickelplatinum	Pt₂FeNi	Tet.
1.AG.40	Tetraferroplatinum	PtFe	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/mmm
1.AG.40	Tulameenite	Pt₂CuFe	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/mmm
1.AG.45	Hongshiite	PtCu	Trig.
1.AG.45	Skaergaardite	PdCu	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Pm3m
1.AG.50	Yixunite	Pt₃In	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m)
1.AG.55	Damiaoite	PtIn₂	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m
1.AG.60	Niggliite	PtSn	Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6₃/mmc
1.AG.65	Bortnikovite	Pd₄Cu₃Zn	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/mmm
1.AG.70	Nielsenite	PdCu₃	Tet. 4mm : P4mm
1.AG.75	Norilskite	(Pd,Ag)_2xPb (x = 0.08 - 0.11)	Trig. 3 2 : P3₁ 2 1

Other InformationHide

Notes:

magnetic

Health Risks:

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

Internet Links for HexaferrumHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-6992.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Search Engines:

Look for Hexaferrum on Google

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External Links:

Look for Hexaferrum on Webmineral

Look for Hexaferrum on Wikipedia

Look for Hexaferrum on Mineralien Atlas

Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

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References for HexaferrumHide

Reference List:

Mochalov, A.G., Dmitrenko, G.G., Rudashevsky, N.S., Zhernovsky, I.V., Boldyreva, M.M. (1998): Hexaferrum (Fe,Ru),(Fe,Os), (Fe,Ir) — a new mineral. Zapiski Vserossiyskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva: 127(5): 41-51; in: Jambor, J.L., Kovalenker, V.A,, Roberts, A.C. (1999): New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 84, 1685-1688

Cabri, L.J. & Aiglsperger, T. (2018): A review of hexaferrum based on new mineralogical data. Mineralogical Magazine, 82: 531-538.

Localities for HexaferrumHide

This 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.

Locality ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed.

- This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.

- Good crystals or important locality for species.

- World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). ~~Struck out~~ - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.


China
Shandong Yantai Laizhou City Jiaojia gold belt ⓘ Qianchen gold deposit	Wu, J., Zeng, Q., Santosh, M., Fan, H., Bai, R., Li, X., ... & Huang, L. (2022). Deep ore‑forming fluid characteristics of the Jiaodong gold province: Evidence from the Qianchen gold deposit in the Jiaojia gold belt. Ore Geology Reviews, 145, 104911.

Dominican Republic
Monseñor Nouel Province Bonao ⓘ Falcondo Mines	Aiglsperger, Thomas, José M. González-Jiménez, Joaquín A. Proenza, Salvador Galí, Francisco Longo, William L. Griffin, and Suzanne Y. O’Reilly (2021) "Open System Re-Os Isotope Behavior in Platinum-Group Minerals during Laterization?" Minerals 11, no. 10: 1083. https://doi.org/10.3390/min11101083
ⓘ Loma Peguera deposit	McDonald A M, Proenza J A, Zaccarini F, Rudashevsky N S, Cabri L J, Stanley C J, Rudashevsky V N, Melgarejo J C, Lewis J F, Longo F, Bakker R J (2010) Garutiite, (Ni,Fe,Ir), a new hexagonal polymorph of native Ni from Loma Peguera, Dominican Republic. European Journal of Mineralogy 22, 293-304

Japan
Hokkaidō Prefecture Rumoi Subprefecture Tomamae District Shosanbetsu ⓘ Minamichiyoda	NISHIO–HAMANE, D., & Saito, K. (2022). Platinum–group minerals in the placer deposit in northwestern Hokkaido, Japan: description of a new mineral, tomamaeite. Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences, 117(1), 220309.

Oman
Al Wusta Governorate Sayh al Uhaymir ⓘ Sayh al Uhaymir 290 meteorite	Zhang, A. C., Ma, C., Sakamoto, N., Wang, R. C., Hsu, W. B., & Yurimoto, H. (2015). Mineralogical anatomy and implications of a Ti–Sc-rich ultrarefractory inclusion from Sayh al Uhaymir 290 CH3 chondrite. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 163, 27-39.

Russia
Buryatia Baunt District Vitim Plateau ⓘ Aunik River	Airiyants, E. V., Belyanin, D. K., Zhmodik, S. M., Agafonov, L. V., & Romashkin, P. A. (2020). Chemical composition and origin of platinum-group minerals from placers of the Aunik River, Buryatia, Russia. Ore Geology Reviews, 120, 103453.
Kamchatka Krai Koryak Okrug ⓘ Chirynaisky Massif (TL)	MinRec 31:201] [ZVMO 127/5 (1998), 41
ⓘ Krasnogorsk massif	Mochalov, A.G., Dmitrenko, G.G., Rudashevsky, N.S., Zhernovsky, I.V., Boldyreva, M.M. (1998): Hexaferrum (Fe,Ru),(Fe,Os), (Fe,Ir) — a new mineral. Zapiski Vserossiyskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva: 127(5): 41-51
Olyutorsky district ⓘ Epilchik mafic-ultramafic complex	http://forum.amiminerals.it/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=16459 Sidorov, E., Kutyrev, A., Chubarov, V., Zhitova, E. (2020): Platinum mineralization of the Epilchik Ural-Alaskan type zoned complex (Far East Russia). Mineralium Deposita: 55, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-020-01008-1
Korf ⓘ Gal'moenan ultrabasic massif	Kozlov, A.P., Chanturiya, V.A., Sidorov, E.G., Tolstykh, N.D., and Telegin, Yu.M. (2011) Large-volume platinum ore deposits in zonal mafic-ultramafic complexes of the Ural-Alaskan type and the outlook for their development. Geology of Ore Deposits, 53(5), 374-389.
ⓘ Matysken complex	Cabri, L. J., Oberthür, T., & Keays, R. R. (2022). Origin and depositional history of platinum-group minerals in placers–A critical review of facts and fiction. Ore Geology Reviews, 144, 104733.
ⓘ Srednegorsky massif	Mochalov, A.G., Dmitrenko, G.G., Rudashevsky, N.S., Zhernovsky, I.V., Boldyreva, M.M. (1998): Hexaferrum (Fe,Ru),(Fe,Os), (Fe,Ir) — a new mineral. Zapiski Vserossiyskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva: 127(5): 41-51

Hexaferrum

About HexaferrumHide