Panethite
A sodium magnesium phosphate found with brianite in the Dayton iron.
Key facts
- Formula
- (Na,Ca)2(Mg,Fe)2(PO4)2
- Family
- Phosphates
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- First described
- the Dayton iron meteorite, 1960s
Panethite was described in the 1960s from the Dayton iron meteorite, together with brianite. It is named after Friedrich Paneth, an Austrian chemist who measured the ages of iron meteorites from their helium.
What it is
Panethite is a phosphate of sodium, calcium, magnesium and iron, closely related to brianite.
Where it is found
It occurs only in the phosphate inclusions of the Dayton iron meteorite.
How it is recognised
It is pale amber and identified by microprobe analysis.
Did you know?
Friedrich Paneth founded the meteorite collection and laboratory at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz.
His helium ages for iron meteorites were later found to be distorted by helium made by cosmic rays, a discovery that helped found the study of cosmic-ray exposure ages.