Perovsk

Perovsk is a mineral discovered in 1837 by Gustav Rose and named after the Russian mineralogist L. A. Perovski. It is a calcium titanate mineral with the chemical formula CaTiO₃. The mineral crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system, although its structure is closely related to the cubic perovskite structure. Pure perovsk is rarely found, and it commonly contains impurities such as iron, magnesium, and niobium. It is a member of the perovskite group of minerals, which share a common crystal structure.

Perovsk typically occurs in mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks, such as gabbro and peridotite, and is also found in metamorphic rocks. It is often found in association with other titanium-bearing minerals like ilmenite and rutile. While perovsk itself is not a major source of titanium, its crystal structure has inspired the name for a vast class of materials known as perovskites, which have significant technological applications. These synthetic perovskite materials, with the general formula ABX₃, exhibit diverse electronic and optical properties, making them useful in areas such as solar cells, LEDs, and catalysts.