Davemaoite
The high-pressure calcium-silicate perovskite (CaSiO₃) of Earth's lower mantle — named for geophysicist Ho-kwang 'Dave' Mao.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Davemaoite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the silicate class, with the chemical formula CaSiO₃.
It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system (space group Pm-3m). It is a member of the Perovskite structural group.
Key properties: specific gravity 4.2.
IMA symbol Dvm, IMA status: approved, named in 2020.
Occurs as remnant inclusions in a IaAB-type diamond. The first known high-pressure silicate mineral recovered from the lower mantle.
It is found associated with Carbonaceous α-iron, wüstite, ilmenite, iron, ice-VII.
The mineral was named to honor Dave (Ho-kwang) Mao for his contributions to experimental geophysics and leadership in high-pressure mineral physics that have had a direct impact on understanding deep-.