Rudashevskyite
The iron-dominant form of sphalerite, found in enstatite chondrites.
Key facts
- Formula
- (Fe,Zn)S
- Family
- Sulphides
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- First described
- the Indarch enstatite chondrite, 2005
Rudashevskyite was approved as a new mineral in 2005 from the Indarch EH4 chondrite and described in 2008. It is named after Nikolay Rudashevsky, a Russian mineralogist from St Petersburg who studied ore minerals.
What it is
Rudashevskyite has the cubic structure of sphalerite, zinc sulphide, but with more iron than zinc. In ordinary rocks sphalerite takes in only a limited amount of iron; the oxygen-poor, sulphur-rich conditions of enstatite chondrites allowed this iron-rich form.
Where it is found
It occurs as small grains with troilite, kamacite and other sulphides in the Indarch EH chondrite.
How it is recognised
It is identified by its composition with the electron microprobe and by X-ray or electron diffraction.
Did you know?
The zinc content of such sulphides is used as a thermometer for how hot enstatite chondrites got.
Sphalerite is the main ore of zinc on Earth.