Andreyivanovite
An iron chromium phosphide from Kaidun, a meteorite made of fragments of many different kinds.
Key facts
- Formula
- FeCrP
- Family
- Phosphides, carbides, nitrides and silicides
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- First described
- the Kaidun meteorite, 2006
Andreyivanovite was approved as a new mineral in 2006 from the Kaidun meteorite, which fell in Yemen in 1980. It is named after Andrey Ivanov, a Russian geochemist who has studied Kaidun for decades and worked on the Soviet Luna missions.
What it is
Andreyivanovite is a phosphide of iron and chromium. Chromium usually joins oxygen in rocks, as in chromite; finding it combined with phosphorus requires strongly reducing, oxygen-poor conditions.
Where it is found
It occurs as tiny grains, with other phosphides, in one of the many fragments of the Kaidun breccia. Kaidun is unusual in holding clasts of carbonaceous, enstatite and other meteorite types mixed together.
How it is recognised
It is identified by microprobe analysis and electron diffraction of tiny grains.
Did you know?
Kaidun fell on a Soviet military base in South Yemen.
It is the type locality of florenskyite as well as andreyivanovite.