  We report new results on the cluster of galaxies Abell 970 obtained from
X-ray observation with BeppoSAX. Our analysis of the BeppoSAX MECS and LECS
data in the range [0.15-10] keV reveals a mean cluster gas temperature of kT =
4.46_{-0.15}^{+0.14}, a metallicity of Z = 0.31_{-0.04}^{+0.05} Z_\odot, and an
interstellar hydrogen absorption density column of N_H = 6.05_{-0.97}^{+1.29}
10^20 cm^-2. Moreover, we obtained azimuthally averaged radial profiles of
these quantities. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that Abell 970
has been disturbed by a past merger or by the ongoing merger process of a
substructure, that put the cluster out of equilibrium. This is also
demonstrated by the offset between the gas and galaxy distributions. Combining
the X-ray data with a recently published analysis of new galaxy radial
velocities, we conclude that a subcluster 8 arcmin to the NW is falling into
Abell 970 and will merge in a few Gigayears, thus disturbing Abell 970's newly
acquired equilibrium. The high alpha-elements/iron ratio that we derive for
this cluster supports the hypothesis of early intracluster medium enrichment by
Type II supernovae.
