How do I identify Xifengite?

Xifengite can be identified by its hardness of 5 on the Mohs scale, Grey color. Look for these key characteristics when examining specimens.

What color is Xifengite?

Xifengite typically appears in Grey, Steel-black. Color can vary depending on impurities and formation conditions.

How hard is Xifengite?

Xifengite has a hardness of 5 on the Mohs scale. This gives it moderate hardness.

Xifengite

A variety of Minerals

What is Xifengite?

Xifengite (Fe5Si3) is a rare metallic iron silicide mineral. The crystal system of xifengite is hexagonal. It has a specific gravity of 6.45 and a Mohs hardness of 5.5. It occurs as steel gray inclusions within other meteorite derived nickel iron mineral phases. It was first described in 1984 and named for the eastern passageway, Xifengkou, of the Great Wall of China. The type locality is the Yanshan meteorite of the Hebei Province, China. It has also been reported from dredgings along the East Pacific Rise. The other known natural iron silicide minerals are gupeiite (Fe3Si), hapkeite (Fe2Si), linzhiite (FeSi2), luobusaite (Fe0.84Si2), naquite (FeSi), suessite (Fe,Ni)3Si, and zangboite (TiFeSi2).