Jonlarsenite, Al₄Cu₉, a new intermetallic phase in the Al–Cu system discovered in a micrometeorite from Oslo, Norway

During project STARDUST, a systematic decade-long search for micrometeorites in Norway, over 5500 specimens were recovered. Among them, a micrometeorite labelled NMM/L2, collected from a rooftop in Oslo, Norway, revealed the presence of a previously unknown Al–Cu intermetallic alloy with Al₄Cu₉ stoichiometry. This new phase has been approved by the IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification as a new mineral species with the name jonlarsenite (IMA 2024-078a). The microspherule (∼200 µm in diameter) exhibits a scoriaceous morphology and mineralogical features consistent with micrometeorites, including the presence of olivine, oxides, Fe–Ni metal beads, and Ca-rich silicate glass. Jonlarsenite occurs as ∼2 µm grains intimately intergrown with Cu-bearing aluminum and is associated with magnesian olivine, spinel, taenite, and silicate glass. Its extraterrestrial origin is revealed by oxygen isotope compositions and chondritic bulk chemistry, similar to previously reported Al- and Cu-bearing meteoritic materials.

Characterisation by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), STEM energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (STEM-EDS), and HR-TEM indicated the mineral to be cubic, space group P-43m, with a≈8.70 Å and a calculated density of 6.979 g cm⁻³. The ideal chemical formula is Al₄Cu₉, with minor Fe substituting for both Al and Cu. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and high-angle annular dark-field scanning TEM (HAADF-STEM) imaging showed a perfect match with the known ordered structure of synthetic γ-Al₄Cu₉. Due to micrometre-scale grain size, physical properties could not be measured. Jonlarsenite expands the suite of known natural intermetallic Al–Cu(–Fe) phases and highlights the significance of micrometeorites as repositories of exotic materials formed under extreme astrophysical conditions.