Uakitite
A vanadium nitride, a member of the osbornite family, from the Uakit iron meteorite.
Key facts
- Formula
- VN
- Family
- Phosphides, carbides, nitrides and silicides
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- First described
- the Uakit iron meteorite
Uakitite was described from the Uakit iron meteorite, found in Buryatia, Russia, and is named after the meteorite. It is known only from meteorites.
What it is
Uakitite is vanadium nitride, with the rock-salt structure shared by osbornite (titanium nitride) and carlsbergite (chromium nitride). Nitrides like these are extremely hard and are used on Earth as coatings for cutting tools.
Where it is found
It occurs as tiny grains in troilite and daubréelite inclusions in the Uakit iron, together with carlsbergite and other sulphides.
How it is recognised
It is identified by electron backscatter diffraction and microprobe analysis.
Did you know?
Uakit belongs to the IIAB group, most of whose members are hexahedrites made of large kamacite crystals.
A chromium sulphide called grokhovskyite was later found in the same meteorite.