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Formula: KFe4(PO4)3
Anhydrous phosphate
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Specific gravity: 3.52 calculated
Environments
Olsenite is a new mineral, approved in 2022 and to date (December 2024) reported only from the type locality.
Localities
At the type locality, El Ali meteorite, Hiran Region, Somalia, petrologic investigation of the
iron meteorite revealed three new
elaliite,
elkinstantonite and olsenite.
These minerals occur along with wüstite,
troilite, sarcopside and
calcium-bearing graftonite within inclusions in the
iron-nickel metal that makes up the bulk
of the El Ali sample.
The new minerals occur within small and large inclusions. Small inclusions typically contain
troilite + wüstite +
±
elkinstantonite ±
sarcopside/graftonite.
Large inclusions consist of troilite +
wüstite on their margins — wherein
wüstite is present as blebs within
troilite, and graftonite-rich areas
in their cores. Elaliite in this setting is present at the boundary of these two
areas and as small (<10 µm) grains
within the graftonite-rich areas, along with small (<10 µm) grains of
sarcopside and troilite.
(AM 109.2142-2151).
Olsenite occurs as irregular crystals, 1 to 5 μm
in size, in the complex iron meteorite, associated with
troilite, graftonite and
elaliite
(Mindat).
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