LOW-SPIN GAMMA(LS)-FE-NI PROPOSED AS A NEW METEORITIC MINERAL - REPLY

The main point of our original article is that the so-called paramagne tic phase in Fe-Ni-bearing meteorites, which had previously been inter preted as being either chemically ordered Fe3Ni or ordinary (high-mome nt) Fe-rich taenite, should be interpreted as a low-moment Fe-rich pha se that we call gamma(LS)-phase or antitaenite. In reviewing all the m eteorite and synthetic analogue work, including several ab initio elec tronic structure calculations, we concluded that the evidence for this was overwhelming and that several other features or characteristics o f this phase could be inferred. Chadwick agrees with our main point bu t proposes alternative interpretations for some of the inferred associ ated features. The resulting discussion is interesting and useful in r elation to continued efforts to understand complex meteoritic Fe-Ni ph ases and microstructures. Nonetheless, we maintain that our original c onclusions and suggestions are those that are most consistent with pre sently published data. We also describe where, in our opinion, further refinements in interpretation will occur as new data becomes availabl e.