Summary
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.[4]
| Brownleeite | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Category | Native element class, Fersilicite group |
| Formula (repeating unit) | MnSi |
| IMA symbol | Bwn[1] |
| Strunz classification | 1.XX.00 |
| Dana classification | 01.01.23.07 |
| Crystal system | Isometric |
| Crystal class | Tetartoidal (23) H-M symbol: (23) |
| Space group | P213 |
| Identification | |
| Crystal habit | Cubic grain in microscopic dust particle (< 2.5 μm) |
| References | [2][3] |
Overview edit
The particles were collected from the stratosphere over south-western US in April 2003 using an ER-2 high-altitude research aircraft of NASA. The team of researchers from US, Germany and Japan was led by NASA scientist Keiko Nakamura-Messenger.[5][6]
To determine the mineral's origin and examine other dust materials, a new transmission electron microscope was installed in 2005 at Johnson Space Center.[7]
The mineral name was approved by the International Mineralogical Association (IMA Number 2008-011).[8] The NASA scientists named the mineral after Donald E. Brownlee, professor of astronomy at the University of Washington, Seattle, because of his pioneering research on interplanetary dust particles.[9]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
- ^ http://webmineral.com/data/Brownleeite.shtml Webmineral data
- ^ http://www.mindat.org/min-36014.html Mindat.org
- ^ Mindat, http://www.mindat.org/min-38826.html
- ^ "University of Washington News of Juni 12, 2008". Archived from the original on 2008-07-08. Retrieved 2008-06-14.
- ^ Newswise: Like a Rock: New Mineral Named for Astronomer Retrieved on June 15, 2008
- ^ NASA News Releases June 12, 2008: NASA Finds New Type of Comet Dust Mineral
- ^ Minerals approved by the IMA-CNMNC in June 2008[permanent dead link]
- ^ Universe Today June 12, 2008: Alien Mineral From Comet Dust Found in Earth's Atmosphere
External links edit
- "Brownleeite: The First New Mineral Identified From a Comet". Planetary Science Research Discoveries.