What is "hibonite"

n. (context mineral English) A calcium aluminate mineral found in carbonaceous chondrite meteorites.

Hibonite ((Ca,Ce)(Al,Ti,Mg)O) is a brownish black mineral with a hardness of 7.5-8.0 and a hexagonal crystal structure. It is rare, but is found in high-grade metamorphic rocks on Madagascar. Some presolar grains in primitive meteorites consist of hibonite. Hibonite also is a common mineral in the Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) found in some chondritic meteorites. Hibonite is closely related to hibonite-Fe (IMA 2009-027, ((Fe,Mg)AlO)) an alteration mineral from the Allende meteorite.

A very rare gem, Hibonite was discovered in Madagascar by Paul Hibon, a French prospector.