Panethite, chemical formula (Na,Ca)2(Mg,Fe)2(PO4)2, is a rare phosphate mineral that was only found in one meteorite on Earth.
It was named in the honor of Friedrich Adolf Paneth (1887–1958), a German chemist who made many contributions toward the discovery of the origin of the universe, and especially studies of meteorites.
Both brianite and panethite were clear and transparent with no crystal faces; and neither present any discernible cleavage.
Panethite and brianite are the minerals known to have the greatest amount of sodium content in meteorites (Fuchs, 1967).
Panethite was named after the then director of the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany, Friedrich Adolf Paneth (1887-1958).