Chemistry:Brownleeite
| Brownleeite | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Category | Native element class, Fersilicite group |
| Formula (repeating unit) | MnSi |
| Strunz classification | 1.XX.00 |
| Dana classification | 01.01.23.07 |
| Crystal system | Isometric |
| Crystal class | Tetartoidal (23) H-M symbol: (23) |
| Space group | P213 |
| Identification | |
| Crystal habit | Cubic grain in microscopic dust particle (< 2.5 μm) |
| References | [1][2] |
Brownleeite is a silicide mineral with chemical formula MnSi. It was discovered by researchers of the Johnson Space Center in Houston while analyzing the Pi Puppid particle shower of the comet 26P/Grigg-Skjellerup. The only other known natural manganese silicide is mavlyanovite, Mn5Si3.[4]
Overview
The particles were collected from the stratosphere over south-western US in April 2003 using an ER-2 high-altitude research aircraft of NASA. The team of researchers from US, Germany and Japan was led by NASA scientist Keiko Nakamura-Messenger.[5][6]
To determine the mineral's origin and examine other dust materials, a new transmission electron microscope was installed in 2005 at Johnson Space Center.[7]
The mineral name was approved by the International Mineralogical Association (IMA Number 2008-011).[8] The NASA scientists named the mineral after Donald E. Brownlee, professor of astronomy at the University of Washington, Seattle, because of his pioneering research on interplanetary dust particles.[9]
See also
References
- ↑ http://webmineral.com/data/Brownleeite.shtml Webmineral data
- ↑ http://www.mindat.org/min-36014.html Mindat.org
- ↑ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine 85 (3): 291–320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. Bibcode: 2021MinM...85..291W.
- ↑ Mindat, http://www.mindat.org/min-38826.html
- ↑ "University of Washington News of Juni 12, 2008". http://uwnews.org/article.asp?articleID=42455.
- ↑ Newswise: Like a Rock: New Mineral Named for Astronomer Retrieved on June 15, 2008
- ↑ NASA News Releases June 12, 2008: NASA Finds New Type of Comet Dust Mineral
- ↑ Minerals approved by the IMA-CNMNC in June 2008[yes|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
- ↑ Universe Today June 12, 2008: Alien Mineral From Comet Dust Found in Earth's Atmosphere
External links
- "Brownleeite: The First New Mineral Identified From a Comet". Planetary Science Research Discoveries. http://www.psrd.hawaii.edu/CosmoSparks/Sept10/brownleeite.html.
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