An Experimental Study of the Iron-Nickel-Sulphur System, with Special Regard to Planetary Formation.

The phenomenon of thermal migration might explain the structure of iron meteorites. A number of binary, ternary, and quaternary alloys (Fe-S, Fe-Ni-S, and Fe-Ni-S-P) have been heat-treated for a long time in a temperature gradient to obtain a better understanding of the phenomenon of thermal migration. By dissolution and precipitation of iron in a sulphur-containing molten part of a solid alloy, the molten part will migrate through the solid alloy towards the hot end of the system. The phenomenon of thermal migration might explain the morphology of sulfidic inclusions in iron meteorites.