Buseckite, (Fe,Zn,Mn)S, a new mineral from the Zaklodzie meteorite

Chi Ma, John R. Beckett, George R. Rossman

Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology,
Pasadena, California 91125, USA

ABSTRACT

Buseckite (IMA 2011-070), (Fe,Zn,Mn)S_, is the Fe-dominant analogue of wurtzite, a new member of the wurtzite group, discovered in the Zaklodzie enstatite-rich chondrite. The type material occurs as single crystal grains 6 - 20 μm in size) along with enstatite, plagioclase, tridymite, troilite, low-Ni iron (kamacite), schreibersite, and keilite. The mean chemical composition determined by electron microprobe analysis of the type material is (wt%) S 35.97, Fe 28.58, Zn 23.58, Mn 10.00, Mg 1.21, sum 99.34. The empirical formula calculated on the basis of 2 atoms is: (Fe_0.46Zn_0.32Mn_0.16Mg_0.05)S_1.01. Its electron back scatter diffraction patterns are an good match to that of synthetic (Zn_0.558Fe_0.442)S with the P6₃mc structure, showing a = 3.8357 Å, c = 6.3002 Å, V = 80.27 ų and Z = 2. It is likely a primary high-temperature phase.

Secondary electron image of buseckite in USNM 7607. Image Credit: Chi Ma