Khatyrkite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Khatyrkite
Formula:
(Cu,Zn)Al2
Colour:
Greyish-yellow
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
5½
Specific Gravity:
4.42 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Name:
Named for the Khatyrka River, the type locality.
This page provides mineralogical data about Khatyrkite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2197
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2197:1
IMA Classification of Khatyrkite
Approved
IMA Formula:
CuAl2
Approval year:
1983
First published:
1985
Classification of Khatyrkite
1.AA.15
1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
A : Metals and Intermetallic Alloys
A : Copper-cupalite family
1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
A : Metals and Intermetallic Alloys
A : Copper-cupalite family
Dana 7th ed.:
1.1.23.2
1.1.15.2
1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
1 : Metals, other than the Platinum Group
1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
1 : Metals, other than the Platinum Group
1.22
1 : Elements and Alloys (including the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au)
1 : Elements and Alloys (including the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au)
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Ktk | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Khatyrkite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Greyish-yellow
Hardness:
5½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=511 - 568 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Malleable
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
{100}, distinct.
{100}, distinct.
Density:
4.42 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Khatyrkite
Anisotropism:
Distinct, grayish yellow to brownish red.
Colour in reflected light:
isotropic sections are pale blue, anisotropic sections are blue to creamy pink
Chemistry of Khatyrkite
Mindat Formula:
(Cu,Zn)Al2
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Khatyrkite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
I4/mcm
Setting:
I4/mcm
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.06(1) Å, c = 4.87(1) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.804
Unit Cell V:
178.84 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0013668 | Khatyrkite | Meetsma A, de Boer J L, van Smaalen S (1989) Refinement of the crystal structure of tetragonal Al2Cu Journal of Solid State Chemistry 83 370-372 | 1989 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.27 Å | (10) |
| 2.119 Å | (8) |
| 2.372 Å | (7) |
| 1.920 Å | (7) |
| 3.04 Å | (5) |
| 1.894 Å | (4) |
| 2.156 Å | (2) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 2: Planetesimal differentiation and alteration | 4.566-4.550 |
| 6 : Secondary asteroid phases | 4.566-4.560 |
Type Occurrence of Khatyrkite
General Appearance of Type Material:
As prismatic crystals, to 400 µm, and intimately intergrown with cupalite in small grains
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Mining Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia, 1687/1.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Meteorite panned from river.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Khatyrkite
Other Language Names for Khatyrkite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 5 photos of Khatyrkite associated with Stolperite | AlCu |
| 2 photos of Khatyrkite associated with Kryachkoite | (Al,Cu)6(Fe,Cu) |
| 2 photos of Khatyrkite associated with Native Iron | Fe |
| 1 photo of Khatyrkite associated with Native Aluminium | Al |
| 1 photo of Khatyrkite associated with Hollisterite | Al3Fe |
| 1 photo of Khatyrkite associated with Icosahedrite | Al63Cu24Fe13 |
| 1 photo of Khatyrkite associated with Forsterite | Mg2(SiO4) |
| 1 photo of Khatyrkite associated with 'Unnamed (Al-Cu Alloy)' | Cu3Al2 (?) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 1.AA. | Jonlarsenite | Al4Cu9 |
| 1.AA. | Pratesiite | AgCuTe2 |
| 1.AA.05 | Native Lead | Pb |
| 1.AA.05a | Auricupride Subgroup | |
| 1.AA.05 | Native Nickel | Ni |
| 1.AA.05 | Native Silver | Ag |
| 1.AA.05 | 'UM2004-08-E:AuCuPd' | Cu2PdAu |
| 1.AA.05 | 'UM1991-06-E:AuCu' | Au3Cu |
| 1.AA.05 | Native Aluminium | Al |
| 1.AA.05 | Steinhardtite | Al0.38Ni0.32Fe0.30 |
| 1.AA.05 | Native Gold | Au |
| 1.AA.05 | Native Copper | Cu |
| 1.AA.05 | Copper Group | |
| 1.AA.10a | Cuproauride | Cu3Au |
| 1.AA.10b | Tetra-auricupride | AuCu |
| 1.AA.10a | Auricupride | Cu3Au |
| 1.AA.10 | Nickel Group | |
| 1.AA.15 | Anyuiite | AuPb2 |
| 1.AA.15 | Novodneprite | AuPb3 |
| 1.AA.15 | 'UM1985-02-E:AlZn' | (Zn,Cu)Al2 |
| 1.AA.20 | Cupalite | (Cu,Zn)Al |
| 1.AA.25 | Hunchunite | Au2Pb |
| 1.AA.30 | Stolperite | AlCu |
| 1.AA.35 | Hollisterite | Al3Fe |
| 1.AA.40 | Icosahedrite | Al63Cu24Fe13 |
| 1.AA.45 | Kryachkoite | (Al,Cu)6(Fe,Cu) |
| 1.AA.50 | Proxidecagonite | Al34Ni9Fe2 |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Khatyrkite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2197.html
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References for Khatyrkite
Reference List:
https://www.doitpoms.ac.uk/miclib/phase_diagrams.php?id=2(interactive phase diagram)
Meetsma, A., De Boer, J.L., Van Smaalen, S. (1989) Refinement of the crystal structure of tetragonal Al2Cu. Journal of Solid State Chemistry, 83. 370-372 doi:10.1016/0022-4596(89)90188-6
Steinhardt, Paul J, Bindi, Luca (2012) In search of natural quasicrystals. Reports on Progress in Physics, 75 (9). 92601pp. doi:10.1088/0034-4885/75/9/092601
Ivanova, Marina A., Lorenz, Cyril A., Borisovskiy, Sergey E., Burmistrov, Andrey A., Korost, Dmitriy V., Korochantsev, Alexander V., Logunova, Maria N., Shornikov, Sergei I., Petaev, Michail I. (2017) Composition and origin of holotype Al-Cu-Zn minerals in relation to quasicrystals in the Khatyrka meteorite. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 52 (5) 869-883 doi:10.1111/maps.12839
Andronicos, C. L., Bindi, L., Distler, V. V., Hollister, L. S., Lin, C., MacPherson, G. J., Steinhardt, P. J., Yudovskaya, M. (2018) Comment on “Composition and origin of holotype Al-Cu-Zn minerals in relation to quasicrystals in the Khatyrka meteorite” by M. Ivanova et al. (2017) Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 53 (11) 2430-2440 doi:10.1111/maps.13125
Localities for Khatyrkite
Showing 4 localities.
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Egypt | |
| Fawzy et al. (2022) |
Italy | |
| Agrosı̀ et al. (2025) |
Russia (TL) | |
| Pekov (1998) +1 other reference |
Sudan | |
| Suttle et al. (2019) +1 other reference |
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The
Khatyrka meteorite, Iomrautvaam massif, Anadyrsky District, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia