Linzhiite

Linzhiite is an iron silicide mineral with the formula FeSi₂. It was discovered in the 1960s in Donetsk Oblast in Soviet Union, and named ferdisilicite, but was not approved by the International Mineralogical Association. It was later rediscovered near Linzhi in Tibet. Linzhiite occurs together with other rare iron silicide minerals, xifengite (Fe₅Si₃) and naquite (FeSi).^[3]

Linzhiite
Linzhiite nugget from Zachativsk Station, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine
General
Category	Minerals
Formula	FeSi2
IMA symbol	Lzh[1]
Strunz classification	1.BB.20
Crystal system	Tetragonal – ditetragonal dipyramidal
Crystal class	H-M symbol (4/m 2/m 2/m) Space group P4/mmm
Unit cell	a = 2.69 Å, c = 5.08 Å, Z = 1
Identification
Color	Steel grey
Cleavage	None
Fracture	Brittle – conchoidal
Mohs scale hardness	6.5
Luster	Metallic
Streak	Grayish black
Diaphaneity	Opaque
Specific gravity	5.05
References	[2][3]