Khatyrkite is remarkable in that it contains micrometre-sized grains of icosahedrite, the first known naturally occurring quasicrystal—aperiodic and yet ordered in structure.
The quasicrystal has a composition of Al₆₃Cu₂₄Fe₁₃ which is close to that of a well-characterized synthetic Al-Cu-Fe material.
It is thought that the icosahedrite, like the khatyrkite, was formed in space in a collision involving the parent body of the meteorite.

A second natural quasicrystal, called decagonite, Al₇₁Ni₂₄Fe₅ with a decagonal structure has been identified by Luca Bindi in the samples and announced in 2015.
Another variant was announced the following year.

Quasicrystals were first reported in 1984 and named so by Dov Levine and Paul Steinhardt.
More than 100 quasicrystal compositions have been discovered by 2009—all synthesized in the laboratory.
Steinhardt initiated a large-scale search for natural quasicrystals around the year of 2000 using the database of the International Centre for Diffraction Data.
About 50 candidates were selected out of 9,000 minerals based on a set of parameters defined by the structure of the known quasicrystals.
The corresponding samples were examined with X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy but no quasicrystals were found.
Widening of the search eventually included khatyrkite.
A sample of the mineral was provided by Luca Bindi of the Museo di Firenze and was later proven to be part of the Russian holotype specimen.
Mapping its chemical composition and crystalline structure revealed agglomerate of grains up to 0.1 millimeter in size of various phases, mostly khatyrkite, cupalite (zinc or iron containing), some yet unidentified Al-Cu-Fe minerals and the Al₆₃Cu₂₄Fe₁₃ quasicrystal phase.
The quasicrystal grains were of high crystalline quality equal to that of the best laboratory specimens, as demonstrated by the narrow diffraction peaks.
The mechanism of their formation is yet uncertain.
The specific composition of the accompanying minerals and the location where the sample was collected—far from any industrial activities—confirm that the discovered quasicrystal is of natural origin.
Khatyrkite is remarkable in that it contains micrometre-sized grains of icosahedrite, the first known naturally occurring quasicrystal—aperiodic and yet ordered in structure. The quasicrystal has a composition of Al₆₃Cu₂₄Fe₁₃ which is close to that of a well-characterized synthetic Al-Cu-Fe material. It is thought that the icosahedrite, like the khatyrkite, was formed in space in a collision involving the parent body of the meteorite.
A second natural quasicrystal, called decagonite, Al₇₁Ni₂₄Fe₅ with a decagonal structure has been identified by Luca Bindi in the samples and announced in 2015. Another variant was announced the following year.
Quasicrystals were first reported in 1984 and named so by Dov Levine and Paul Steinhardt. More than 100 quasicrystal compositions have been discovered by 2009—all synthesized in the laboratory. Steinhardt initiated a large-scale search for natural quasicrystals around the year of 2000 using the database of the International Centre for Diffraction Data. About 50 candidates were selected out of 9,000 minerals based on a set of parameters defined by the structure of the known quasicrystals. The corresponding samples were examined with X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy but no quasicrystals were found. Widening of the search eventually included khatyrkite. A sample of the mineral was provided by Luca Bindi of the Museo di Firenze and was later proven to be part of the Russian holotype specimen. Mapping its chemical composition and crystalline structure revealed agglomerate of grains up to 0.1 millimeter in size of various phases, mostly khatyrkite, cupalite (zinc or iron containing), some yet unidentified Al-Cu-Fe minerals and the Al₆₃Cu₂₄Fe₁₃ quasicrystal phase. The quasicrystal grains were of high crystalline quality equal to that of the best laboratory specimens, as demonstrated by the narrow diffraction peaks. The mechanism of their formation is yet uncertain. The specific composition of the accompanying minerals and the location where the sample was collected—far from any industrial activities—confirm that the discovered quasicrystal is of natural origin.
Khatyrkite