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Hexaferrum

A valid IMA mineral species
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01088220017271928649354.jpg
Hexaferrum

Koryak plateau, Russia
00536700017753726929667.jpg
Hexaferrum

Chirynaisky Massif, Koryak Okrug, Kamchatka Krai, Russia
01088220017271928649354.jpg
Hexaferrum

Koryak plateau, Russia
00536700017753726929667.jpg
Hexaferrum

Chirynaisky Massif, Koryak Okrug, Kamchatka Krai, Russia
01088220017271928649354.jpg
Hexaferrum

Koryak plateau, Russia
00536700017753726929667.jpg
Hexaferrum

Chirynaisky Massif, Koryak Okrug, Kamchatka Krai, Russia
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About HexaferrumHide

Formula:
(Fe,Os,Ru,Ir)
Colour:
steel-gray with yellow tint
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
6 - 7
Specific Gravity:
10.69 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Name:
Named for the crystal morphology, being in the HEXAgonal system, and its composition, containing essential iron (Latin = FERRUM).
Dimorph of:
Native Iron
The Fe analogue of garutiite, hexamolybdenum, osmium, and ruthenium. Said to represent a continuous solid solution, and Ir-, Os- and Ru-rich varieties are desribed.

It was defined by Mochalov et al. (1998) as a hexagonal close-packed (hcp) Fe mineral containing amounts of Ru, Os, or Ir. Cabri & Aiglsperger (2018) has re-examined hexaferrum together with a review of the phase chemistry in the Fe-Ni-Ir and Fe-Ru-Ir systems. They conclude that "the hcp (Fe,Ir) mineral correponds to the ε-phase of Raub et al. (1964) and should be differentiated from hexaferrum [(Fe,Os) and (Fe,Ru)] because it is separated by one to two miscibility gaps and therefore is not a continuous solid solution with Fe".


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
6992
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:6992:8

Similar NamesHide

Hexaferrum-(Fe,Ir)A variety of Hexaferrum(Fe, Ir, Ru, Os)
Hexaferrum-(Fe,Os)A variety of Hexaferrum(Fe,Os,Ru,Ir)
Hexaferrum-(Fe,Ru)A variety of Hexaferrum(Fe,Ru,Os,Ir)

IMA Classification of HexaferrumHide

IMA status:
Approved
Approval year:
1995

Classification of HexaferrumHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
1.AG.05

1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
A : Metals and Intermetallic Alloys
G : PGE-metal alloys
Dana 7th ed.:
1.1.17.6

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
HfeIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of HexaferrumHide

Lustre:
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Steel-gray with yellow tint
Streak:
Black
Hardness:
6 - 7 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=629 - 679 - Vickers
Comment:
the above is VHN50 for Ru-variety; Os-variety: 741-880
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Density:
10.69 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of HexaferrumHide

Anisotropism:
strong, blue-gray to muddy-brown yellow polarization colors (Ru variety); weak (Os & Ir variety)
Bireflectance:
not observed in Os- and Ir-rich variety
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)R2 (%)
480nm49.8%41.9%
560nm51.1%42.0%
580nm51.4%42.0%
660nm53.4%43.0%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 53.4%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
light gray to white (Ru variety); white (Os variety); white to light gray (Ir variety)
Comments:
Reflectance for the Os-rich variety: 55.1 (480nm), 53.4 (560nm), 53.2 (580nm), 54.7 (660nm)

Chemistry of HexaferrumHide

Mindat Formula:
(Fe,Os,Ru,Ir)
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Fe100.000 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Elements listed:
Fe, Ir, Os, Ru - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of HexaferrumHide

Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P63/mmc
Cell Parameters:
a = 2.64(1) Å, c = 4.20(2) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.591
Unit Cell V:
25.35 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2

Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0020236HexaferrumMochalov A G, Dmitrenko G G, Rudashevsky N S, Zhernovsky I V, Boldyreva M M (1998) Hexaferrum (Fe,Ru),(Fe,Os),(Fe,Ir) - a new mineral Zapiski Vserossijskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva 127 41-511998Chirynaisky Massif, Koryak Mts, Far-Eastern Region, Russia0293
0020235HexaferrumMochalov A G, Dmitrenko G G, Rudashevsky N S, Zhernovsky I V, Boldyreva M M (1998) Hexaferrum (Fe,Ru),(Fe,Os),(Fe,Ir) - a new mineral Zapiski Vserossijskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva 127 41-511998Chirynaisky Massif, Koryak Mts, Far-Eastern Region, Russia0293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
2.28/2.246/2.254 Å(50)
2.10/2.087/2.103 Å(60/60/70)
2.006/1.976/1.993 Å(100)
1.549/-/1.542 Å(30/-/40)
-/1.528/- Å(40)
1.316/1.297/1.304 Å(30/60/50)
1.195/1.180/1.192 Å(30/60/40)
-/1.100/1.110 Å(-/50/40)
-/1.083 Å(30)
Comments:
Ru/Os/Ir varieties; b - broad

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Near-surface Processes
26 : Hadean detrital minerals
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks>3.0
36 : Carbonatites, kimberlites, and related igneous rocks
37 : Layered igneous intrusions and related PGE minerals

Type Occurrence of HexaferrumHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Chirynaisky Massif, Koryak Okrug, Kamchatka Krai, Russia
General Appearance of Type Material:
Cubic or octahedral crystals, up to 200 µm (usually 5–50 µm), as inclusions in Cr spinel
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Mining Museum of Saint Petersburg Mining Institute, Russia
Geological Setting of Type Material:
dunite-harzburgite massif
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
AwaruiteNative Copper'Iridosmine'Native IronLaurite
OregonitePentlandite'Rutheniridium'TulameeniteNative Zinc

Synonyms of HexaferrumHide

Other Language Names for HexaferrumHide

Varieties of HexaferrumHide

Hexaferrum-(Fe,Ir)A variety of Hexaferrum rich in Iridium
Hexaferrum-(Fe,Os)A variety of Hexaferrum rich in Osmium.
Hexaferrum-(Fe,Ru)A variety of Hexaferrum rich in Ruthenium

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

1.AG.SluzhenikinitePd15(Sb7-xSnx)Mon. 2/m : P21/m
1.AG.PalladothallitePd3TlTet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I4/mmm
1.AG.DriekopitePtBiHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
1.AG.SidoroviteFe3PtIso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Pm3m
1.AG.Michitoshiite-(Cu)Rh(Cu1-xGex) Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Pm3m
1.AG.05Garutiite(Ni,Fe,Ir)Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
1.AG.10ZvyagintsevitePd3PbIso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Pm3n
1.AG.10Rustenburgite(Pt,Pd)3SnIso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
1.AG.10Atokite(Pd,Pt)3SnIso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
1.AG.15Taimyrite(Pd,Cu,Pt)3SnOrth.
1.AG.15Tatyanaite(Pt,Pd,Cu)9Cu3Sn4Orth.
1.AG.20PaolovitePd2SnOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
1.AG.25Stannopalladinite(Pd,Cu)3SnOrth.
1.AG.25PlumbopalladinitePd3Pb2Hex. 6mm : P63mc
1.AG.30CabriitePd2CuSnOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmmm
1.AG.35IsoferroplatinumPt3FeIso. m3m(4/m32/m)
1.AG.35ChengdeiteIr3FeIso. m3m(4/m32/m)
1.AG.40TetraferroplatinumPtFeTet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P4/mmm
1.AG.40TulameenitePt2CuFeTet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P4/mmm
1.AG.40FerronickelplatinumPt2FeNiTet.
1.AG.45SkaergaarditePdCuIso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Pm3m
1.AG.45HongshiitePtCuTrig.
1.AG.50YixunitePt3InIso. m3m(4/m32/m)
1.AG.55DamiaoitePtIn2Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
1.AG.60NiggliitePtSnHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
1.AG.65BortnikovitePd4Cu3ZnTet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P4/mmm
1.AG.70NielsenitePdCu3Tet. 4mm : P4mm
1.AG.75Norilskite(Pd,Ag)2xPb (x = 0.08 - 0.11)Trig. 32 : P3121

Other InformationHide

Notes:
magnetic
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 HexaferrumHide

References for HexaferrumHide

Localities for HexaferrumHide

Showing 20 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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Locality ListHide

- 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). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
China
 
  • Shandong
    • Yantai
      • Laizhou City
        • Jiaojia-Xincheng Gold camp
Wu et al. (2022)
Dominican Republic
 
  • Monseñor Nouel Province
    • Bonao
Aiglsperger et al. (2021)
McDonald et al. (2010)
Italy
 
  • Emilia-Romagna
    • Ferrara Province
      • Vigarano Mainarda
        • Vigarano Pieve
Ma (2012)
Japan
 
  • Hokkaidō Prefecture
    • Rumoi Subprefecture
      • Tomamae District
        • Shosanbetsu
NISHIO–HAMANE et al. (2022)
Northwest Africa Meteorites
 
Ivanova et al. (2015)
Oman
 
  • Al Wusta Governorate
    • Sayh al Uhaymir
Zhang et al. (2015)
Russia
 
  • Buryatia
    • Baunt District
      • Vitim Plateau
Airiyants et al. (2020)
  • Kamchatka Krai
    • Koryak Okrug
[var: Hexaferrum-(Fe,Ir), var: Hexaferrum-(Fe,Os), var: Hexaferrum-(Fe,Ru)] [ZVMO 127/5 (1998) +1 other reference
[var: Hexaferrum-(Fe,Os), var: Hexaferrum-(Fe,Ru)] Mochalov et al. (1998)
      • Olyutorsky district
Sidorov et al. (2021)
        • Korf
Kozlov et al. (2011)
Cabri et al. (2022)
[var: Hexaferrum-(Fe,Ru)] Mochalov et al. (1998)
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