During our nano-mineralogy investigation
of the Allende meteorite, we discovered two
new minerals that occur as micro- to nano-crystals in
refractory inclusions: Allendeite, Sc_4Zr_3O_(12), a new Scand
Zr-rich oxide; and hexamolybdenum, (Mo,Ru,Fe),
a Mo-dominant alloy. Allendeite, which may be an
important ultra-refractory carrier linking Zr-, Sc- oxides
and the more common Sc-, Zr-enriched clinopyroxenes
(Cpx) in CAIs, hosts perovskite (Pv), spinel
(Sp), Os-Ir-W-Mo alloys, and hexamolybdenum. The
observation of two structurally and chemically distinct
highly refractory, low-Pt alloy minerals not associated
with Fe-Ni alloys provides the first direct physical
evidence for at least two separate carriers of the highly
refractory metals in CAIs. Hexamolybdenum links Osrich
and Pt-rich meteoritic alloys and may be a precursor
of the latter. Both new minerals have been approved
by the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature
and Classification of the International Mineralogical
Association (IMA 2007-027, 029)
