Study of rhabdite (iron nickel phosphide) microcrystals extracted from Sikhote–Alin iron meteorite by magnetization measurements and Mössbauer spectroscopy

Study of rhabdite (iron nickel phosphide) microcrystals extracted from Sikhote–Alin iron meteorite was made using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, magnetic measurements and Mössbauer spectroscopy with a high velocity resolution at various temperatures. The Curie temperature for iron nickel phosphide microcrystals was evaluated in the range of 345–355 K. On the basis of Mössbauer data the temperature dependences of magnetic hyperfine fields for Fe atoms in the M1, M2 and M3 sites of rhabdite were shown as well as Fe and Ni occupancies of these sites were evaluated.

► Rhabdite microcrystals from Sikhote–Alin meteorite shows TC ∼ 345–355 K. ► Mössbauer spectra of rhabdites were measured with a high velocity resolution. ► Occupancies of the M1, M2 and M3 sites by Fe and Ni in rhabdites were evaluated.