ironselenide

Ironselenide is a rare inorganic compound with the chemical formula Fe3OSe. It belongs to the class of selenide minerals, which are characterized by the presence of selenium in their crystal structure.

Ironselenide was first described in 2008 from a meteorite found in the Sikhote-Alin Mountains in Russia. Since then, it has been identified in a few other meteorites. The compound is thought to be of extraterrestrial origin and is considered to provide valuable insights into the formation and evolution of planetary cores.

The crystal structure of ironselenide is orthorhombic, with each iron atom surrounded by six selenium atoms in addition to two other iron atoms. This arrangement is distinct from other iron selenide minerals, which typically have a more complex crystal structure.

Ironselenide is of interest to geologists and astrobiologists due to its potential as a indicator of sewage and contamination in our environment. As compound found in meteorites of extraterrestrial origin, this holds many explanations for the early origins of life in the universe.

Research has shown that iron selenide compounds can catalyze reactions that resemble the primordial soup conditions on Earth and potentially elsewhere. Therefore, iron selenide minerals such as iron selenide provide real-life connections to the origin of life on our planet.