Distribution of germanium in the metallic phases of some iron meteorites

Ge distributions in ten iron meteorites with bulk Ge contents of 8.7 to 2000 ppm have been measured by electron probe microanalysis. Ge is concentrated almost entirely in the metallic phases. It was redistributed in the temperature range at which the Widmanstatten pattern developed. Ge content shows a positive correlation with Ni content, reaching a maximum in taenite and a minimum in kamacite at the kamacite-taenite interface. The distribution coefficient of Ge between kamacite and taenite is relatively constant. The distribution of Ge is discussed in terms of its trace element behavior and its covariance with Ni.