Osbornite is a naturally occurring variety of titanium nitride. It was first discovered in the Bustee meteorite in the late nineteenth century.[1] Its crystals are golden-yellow octahedrons, combined with oldhamite. It is friable and does not dissolve in acids.[2]
| Osbornite | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Category | Mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | TiN |
| IMA symbol | Obn |
| Strunz classification | 1.BC.15 |
| Dana classification | 1.1.19.1 |
| Crystal system | isometric |
| Space group | Fm3m |
| Unit cell | a = 4.24173 Å Z=4 V=76.32 Å3 |
| Structure | |
| Identification | |
| Formula mass | 61.874 |
| Colour | golden yellow |
| Tenacity | brittle |
| Mohs scale hardness | 8.5 |
| Luster | metallic |
| Streak | yellow |
| Diaphaneity | opaque |
| Density | 5.24 g/mL |
| Melting point | 2930 °C |
Osbornite is usually found only in meteorites, but osbornite of terrestrial origin has been found in one location in the continental collision zone of Tibet. Osbornite requires extraordinarily low redox potential and very high temperatures (2500–3000 K) to form.[3]
References
edit- ^ Carr, L. P.; Pillinger, C. T. "Nitrogen Isotopic Composition of Osbornite from the Bustee Meteorite". Lunar and Planetary Science. XV: 129–130. Bibcode:1984LPI....15..129C.
- ^ E.L. Krinov (1960). Principles of Meteorics. Pergamon Press. p. 335.
- ^ G. Parthasarathy; et al. (Aug 2016). "Osbornite (TiN): Implications for an extraterrestrial origin of carbonado- diamonds". 35th International Geological Congress At: Cape Town, South Africa.
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