High-resolution synchrotron X-ray study of icosahedrite, an icosahedral AlCuFe quasicrystal from the Khatyrka meteorite

Icosahedrite, natural icosahedral Al<sub>63</sub>Cu<sub>24</sub>Fe<sub>13</sub>, was discovered in a meteorite about 15 years ago. We have carried out a high-resolution X-ray diffraction study on a sample of this meteoritic mineral at the ESRF. The diffraction pattern turned out to be identical to an intermediate phase observed in synthetic i-AlCuFe during the transformation from the quasicrystalline state to a periodic rhombohedral phase. This particular natural Al<sub>63</sub>Cu<sub>24</sub>Fe<sub>13</sub> grain is an icosahedral quasicrystal on which a modulation by six cosine waves propagating along the fivefold axes is superimposed, with a wavelength of about 20 nm and a polarization in the phason/perpendicular space. By examining the thermodynamic conditions for producing this modulated icosahedral phase at high pressure in the laboratory, we may gain insights into the formation process of the Khatyrka meteorite.

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Publication Details

Journal
IUCrJ
Published
2025-05-23
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1107/s2052252525004130
Citations
4
Primary Topic
Quasicrystal Structures and Properties
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
2.07

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article

High-resolution synchrotron X-ray study of icosahedrite, an icosahedral AlCuFe quasicrystal from the Khatyrka meteorite

Luigi Paolasini, Luca Bindi, Paul J. Steinhardt, F. Formisano et al.
4 citations
IUCrJ
Quasicrystal Structures and Properties
2.07
article

High-resolution synchrotron X-ray study of icosahedrite, an icosahedral AlCuFe quasicrystal from the Khatyrka meteorite

Luigi Paolasini, Luca Bindi, Paul J. Steinhardt, F. Formisano, Alexeï Bosak, Tsunetomo Yamada, M. de Boissieu, Hiroyuki Takakura, K. Mizunuma
article en
4 citations

Abstract

Icosahedrite, natural icosahedral Al<sub>63</sub>Cu<sub>24</sub>Fe<sub>13</sub>, was discovered in a meteorite about 15 years ago. We have carried out a high-resolution X-ray diffraction study on a sample of this meteoritic mineral at the ESRF. The diffraction pattern turned out to be identical to an intermediate phase observed in synthetic i-AlCuFe during the transformation from the quasicrystalline state to a periodic rhombohedral phase. This particular natural Al<sub>63</sub>Cu<sub>24</sub>Fe<sub>13</sub> grain is an icosahedral quasicrystal on which a modulation by six cosine waves propagating along the fivefold axes is superimposed, with a wavelength of about 20 nm and a polarization in the phason/perpendicular space. By examining the thermodynamic conditions for producing this modulated icosahedral phase at high pressure in the laboratory, we may gain insights into the formation process of the Khatyrka meteorite.

IUCrJVol. 12(4)
Hokkaido University of Science (JP), Institut polytechnique de Grenoble (FR), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Tokyo University of Science (JP), Princeton University (US), Hokkaido University (JP), European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (FR), Science et Ingénierie des Matériaux et Procédés (FR), Institut Laue-Langevin (FR), University of Florence (IT), Université Grenoble Alpes (FR)
European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 13%
Quasicrystal Structures and Properties
2.07
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