Open Adit™ - Pyrrhotite Datasheet

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Pyrrhotite is an unusual iron sulfide mineral with a variable iron content: Fe(1-x)S (x = 0 to 0.2). The FeS endmember is known as troilite. Also called magnetic pyrite because the color is similar to pyrite and it is weakly magnetic, the magnetism increases as the iron content decreases. Pyrrhotite is strange also because it has two crystal symmetries. When pyrrhotite is high in iron and the formula is closer to true FeS the structure is hexagonal. But, when it is low in iron, the structure is monoclinic. Both symmetries occur together in the same specimen.

Chemistry:

Fe_1-xS (x = 0-0, 17) - Iron Sulfide

Class:

Sulfides and Sulfosalts

Group:

Nickeline

Crystal:

Hexagonal and Monoclinic

Color:

Bronze-yellow to brown, tarnishes quickly

Dark gray-black

Metallic

Opaque

4.7

3.5 - 4.5

None

Uneven to conchoidal

Tabular, pyramidal and prismatic crystals, massive.

Luminescence:

Non-fluorescent

Frequency:

Abundant

Origin:

Magmatic liquid in basic rocks, together with pyrite and pentlandite; in pegmatites; hydrothermal in high-tempurature and metasomatic deposits. Sedimentary and metamorphic.

Occurence:

Trepea, Serbia and Dalnegorsk, Russia; Chihuahua, Mexico; Chiuzbaia, Romania; Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.

Application:

Used as Iron ore or Sulfur ore. Mineral specimen.

Mineral Gallery

Metaphysical Properties

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