Crystalline Structure, Stoichiometry and Magnetic Properties of the Morasko Meteorite

B. Idzikowskia, J. Kováčb, P. Dikob, W.T.J. Stankowskic and A. Muszyńskic aInstitute of Molecular Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, M. Smoluchowskiego 17, 60-179 Poznań, Poland bInstitute of Experimental Physics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Watsonova 47, 040 01 Košice, Slovak Republic cInstitute of Geology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Maków Polnych 16, 61-606 Poznań, Poland

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The composition and structure of iron-nickel alloys smithereens extracted from the Morasko (Poland) Meteorite (fell ∿ 5 ka BP) were investigated by optical metallographic techniques, scanning electron microscopy and electron microprobe analysis, thermal analyses, magnetic measurements and X-ray diffraction. Microstructural analysis by scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy has shown that the sample is composed from large grains of Fe-Ni alloy in which secondary phase crystals with well developed crystal habits and the size about 10 micrometers are distributed. Thermal analyses confirmed that the transformation from alpha to gamma Fe-Ni solid solution appearing as a function of temperature corresponds to about 5 wt% Ni in the Fe-Ni alloy. Possible scenario of the extraterrestrial sample solidification is related to the microstructural and magnetic behavior.

DOI: 10.12693/APhysPolA.118.1071 PACS numbers: 91.65.Sn, 75.50.Bb, 67.80.dk