The microstructure of a high-purity Al-6.5Si-1Fe(wt pct) alloy after solidification at various cooling rates was investigated. In most of the cases, the monoclinic
beta-Al9Fe2Si2 phase was observed as long and thin lamellae. However, at a very slow cooling rate, Febearing precipitates with Chinese script morphology appeared together with lamellae. Further analysis showed all these Chinese script precipitates correspond also to the monoclinic beta phase. This finding stresses that differentiating second phases according to their shape may be misleading