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Formula: (Mo,Ru,Fe,Ir,Os)
Alloy of molybdenum, ruthenium,
iron, iridium and
osmium, hexagonal paramorph of
isometric molybdenum
Crystal System: Hexagonal
Specific gravity: 11.90 calculated
Environments
Localities
At the type Locality, the Allende meteorite, Pueblito de Allende, Chihuahua, Mexico, two new (in 2007) minerals were
discovered in the carbonaceous chondrite as micro- to nano- crystals in an ultrarefractory inclusion; they are
allendeite and hexamolybdenum. Hexamolybdenum's name refers
to the primitive hexagonal symmetry and molybdenum-rich composition. The
two minerals reflect conditions during early stages of the formation of the Solar System. Hexamolybdenum is part
of a continuum of high-temperature alloys in meteorites supplying
a link between osmium- and/or
ruthenium -rich and iron-rich
meteoritic alloys. It may be a derivative of the former and a
precursor of the latter
(AM 99.4.654-666).
Associated minerals include perovskite,
tazheranite, spinel,
kushiroite, allendeite and
pyroxene group minerals
(Mindat).
Hexamolybdenum from the Allende Meteorite -
Image
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