| Taenite | |
|---|---|
 Widmanstätten patterns ofkamacite and taenite, from ameteorite currently in theNatural History Museum, London. | |
| General | |
| Category | Metals and intermetallic alloys |
| Formula | γ-(Ni,Fe) |
| IMA symbol | Tae[1] |
| Strunz classification | 1.AE.10 |
| Crystal system | Isometric |
| Crystal class | Hexoctahedral (m3m) H-M symbol: (4/m3 2/m) |
| Space group | Fm3m |
| Identification | |
| Color | metallic grayish to white |
| Cleavage | None |
| Fracture | Hackly fracture |
| Tenacity | Malleable, flexible |
| Mohs scale hardness | 5–5.5 |
| Luster | metallic |
| Streak | light gray |
| Diaphaneity | Opaque |
| Specific gravity | 7.8–8.22 |
| Other characteristics | magnetic, not radioactive |
| References | [2][3] |
Taenite is amineral found naturally on Earth mostly iniron meteorites. It is analloy ofiron andnickel, with a chemical formula ofFe,Ni and nickel proportions of 20% up to 65%.
The name is derived from the Greek ταινία for "band, ribbon". Taenite is a major constituent ofiron meteorites. Inoctahedrites it is found in bands interleaving withkamacite formingWidmanstätten patterns, whereas inataxites it is the dominant constituent. In octahedrites a fine intermixture withkamacite can occur, which is calledplessite.
Taenite is one of four known Fe-Ni meteorite minerals: The others are kamacite,tetrataenite, andantitaenite.
It is opaque with a metallic grayish to white color. The structure is isometric-hexoctahedral (cubic). Its density is around 8 g/cm3 and hardness is 5 to 5.5 on theMohs scale. Taenite ismagnetic, in contrast to antitaenite. The structure is isometric-hexoctahedral (cubic). The crystal lattice has the c≈a=3.582±0.002 Å.[4] TheStrunz classification is I/A.08-20, while theDana classification is 1.1.11.2.