Taenite
The nickel-rich iron-nickel alloy (20–65% Ni) of meteorites — companion to kamacite in Widmanstätten patterns.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Taenite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the native element class, with the chemical formula (Ni,Fe).
It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 5–5.5; specific gravity 7.8–8.22; Metallic luster.
IMA symbol Tae, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1861.
Important in meteorites. As spherules in lunar rocks. In serpentinized nickeliferous ultramafic rocks, as particles or spherules in placer sands, and as loose, detached masses which give few clues as to their ultimate origin.
It is found associated with Kamacite, awaruite, graphite, cohenite, moissanite, schreibersite, troilite, daubréelite, oldhamite, other meteorite minerals.
Its name comes from the Greek for band or strip, in allusion to its platy structure.