Phase equilibria in the nominally Al65Cu23Fe12 system at 3, 5 and 21 GPa: Implications for the quasicrystal-bearing Khatyrka meteorite

Two of the three natural quasiperiodic crystals found in the Khatyrka meteorite show a composition within the Al-Cu-Fe system. Icosahedrite, with formula Al63Cu24Fe13, coexists with the new Al62Cu31Fe2 quasicrystal plus additional Al-metallic minerals such as stolperite (AlCu), kryachkoite [(AlCu)(6)(Fe, Cu)], hollisterite (AlFe3), khatyrkite (Al2Cu) and cupalite (AlCu), associated to high-pressure phases like ringwoodite/ahrensite, coesite, and stishovite. These high-pressure minerals represent the evidence that most of the Khatyrka meteoritic fragments formed at least at 5 GPa and 1200 degrees C, if not at more extreme conditions. On the other hand, experimental studies on phase equilibria within the representative Al-Cu Fe system appear mostly limited to ambient pressure conditions, yet. This makes the interpretation of the coexisting mineral phases in the meteoritic sample quite difficult.