Cupalite
A copper aluminium alloy with equal parts of each metal, found in the Khatyrka meteorite.
Key facts
- Formula
- CuAl
- Family
- Metals and alloys
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- First described
- grains from the Khatyrka area, Chukotka, 1985
Cupalite was described in 1985 together with khatyrkite from grains found in the Koryak Mountains of Chukotka, and was named after its copper and aluminium. It was later shown to belong to the Khatyrka meteorite.
What it is
Cupalite is an intermetallic compound with one copper atom for each aluminium atom. It is one of a group of natural copper–aluminium alloys known only from the Khatyrka material.
Where it is found
It occurs with khatyrkite, stolperite and quasicrystals in grains of the Khatyrka meteorite, a CV3 carbonaceous chondrite found in Chukotka.
How it is recognised
It is identified by its composition and by X-ray or electron diffraction.
Did you know?
Cupalite was named about 25 years before anyone realised it came from space.
Stolperite, described in 2016, has the same composition but a different structure.