noun
- An iron-nickel alloy that is the main constituent of iron meteorites, characterized by a body-centered cubic crystal structure.
Usage: technical; mineralogy; astronomy
Examples
- Kamacite is the primary phase found in most iron meteorites.
- The Widmanstätten pattern visible in iron meteorites results from the crystallization of kamacite and taenite.
- Scientists identified kamacite in the meteorite sample through electron microscopy.
- The iron-nickel ratio in kamacite helps determine the meteorite's origin and age.