nickel–iron

mineral

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Related Topics:: taenite; native element; kamacite

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nickel–iron, very rare native alloy of nickel and iron that contains between 24 and 77 percent nickel. It occurs in the gold washings of the Gorge River, N.Z.; in the platinum sands of the Bobrovka River, Urals; and in the gold dredgings of the Fraser River, B.C. It also occurs in large ellipsoidal masses (some weighing more than 40 kilograms [about 90 pounds]) in Oregon.

Nickel–iron also can be of meteoritic origin. Called taenite, it is found in some ataxites and in all octahedrites. Plessite, an intergrowth of taenite and kamacite (meteoritic iron), is also a constituent of all octahedrites. All the nickel–irons crystallize in the isometric system. For detailed physical properties, see native element (table).

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.