Osbornite
Natural titanium nitride — golden octahedra in meteorites, first found in the Bustee meteorite.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Osbornite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the native element class, with the chemical formula TiN.
It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system (space group Fm3m). It is a member of the Rocksalt structural group.
Key properties: specific gravity 5.38; Metallic luster.
IMA symbol Obn, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1870.
Embedded in oldhamite in an achondrite meteorite (Bustee meteorite); as inclusions in corundum, in weathered detritus from a pipelike body containing breccias with an alkalic ultramafic cement (“Russia”).
It is found associated with Oldhamite, diopside (Bustee meteorite); corundum, iron, perovskite, iron silicides (“Russia”).
The name refers to George Osborn, who sent to London the meteorite in which the species was found.