Perryite
Perryite is a rare iron silicide mineral with the chemical formula (Ni,Fe)5(Si,P)2. It is a member of the phosphide class and is characterized by its metallic luster and generally silver-gray to steel-gray color.
Perryite is primarily found in meteorites, specifically in enstatite chondrites, where it occurs as small, often rounded grains within the matrix. Its presence is indicative of highly reduced conditions during the formation of the meteorite parent body.
The name Perryite honors Stuart Perry, a renowned meteorite collector and curator at the United States National Museum (Smithsonian Institution).
Perryite is notable for its complex solid solution chemistry, with nickel and iron substituting for each other within the structure, and silicon and phosphorus also showing some degree of substitution. The mineral is generally opaque and exhibits a relatively high hardness. Due to its rarity and small grain size, Perryite is primarily of scientific interest for understanding the conditions present during the early solar system and the formation of meteorites. It has limited practical applications.