Ulvöspinel
An iron titanium spinel common in lunar basalts and Martian meteorites.
Key facts
- Formula
- Fe2TiO4
- Family
- Oxides
- Crystal system
- Cubic
What it is
Ulvöspinel is an iron titanium oxide with the spinel structure. It forms a series with magnetite, and at high temperature the two mix completely. It is named after Ulvö, an island in Sweden.
Where it is found
It is common in mare basalts from the Moon, in shergottites and nakhlites from Mars and in angrites such as D'Orbigny. In shocked Shergotty, a single ulvöspinel grain turned into the three new minerals tschaunerite, feiite and liuite.
How it is recognised
In polished sections it is grey-brown, often with thin lamellae of ilmenite that grew as it cooled. Microprobe analysis shows its titanium content.
Did you know?
On the Moon, where there is almost no oxygen, ulvöspinel can break down to ilmenite and iron metal.
Magnetite–ulvöspinel grains record the direction of the magnetic field in many Earth lavas.