Brownleeite

Brownleeite
General
Category Native element class, Fersilicite group
Formula
(repeating unit)		 MnSi
Strunz classification 01.XX.00
Dana classification 01.01.23.07
Crystal system Isometric - Tetartoidal H-M Symbol (2 3) Space Group: P 213
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.[3]

Overview

The particles where collected from the stratosphere over south-western US in April 2003 using an ER-2 high-altitude research aircraft of the NASA. The team of researchers from USA, Germany and Japan was led by NASA scientist Keiko Nakamura-Messenger.[4][5]

To determine the mineral's origin and examine other dust materials, a new transmission electron microscope was installed in 2005 at Johnson Space Center.[6]

The mineral name was approved by the International Mineralogical Association (IMA Nummer 2008-011).[7] The NASA scientists named the mineral after Donald E. Brownlee, professor of astronomy at the University of Washington, Seattle.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://webmineral.com/data/Brownleeite.shtml Webmineral data
  2. ↑ http://www.mindat.org/min-36014.html Mindat.org
  3. ↑ Mindat, http://www.mindat.org/min-38826.html
  4. ↑ University of Washington News of Juni 12, 2008
  5. ↑ Newswise: Like a Rock: New Mineral Named for Astronomer Retrieved on June 15, 2008
  6. ↑ NASA News Releases June 12, 2008: NASA Finds New Type of Comet Dust Mineral
  7. ↑ Minerals approved by the IMA-CNMNC in June 2008
  8. ↑ Universe Today June 12, 2008: Alien Mineral From Comet Dust Found in Earth's Atmosphere

External links

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