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Physical Properties of Marcasite
Cleavage:
{010} Indistinct
Color:
Bronze, Light brass yellow, Tin white.
Density:
4.89
Diaphaneity:
Opaque
Fracture:
Uneven - Flat surfaces (not cleavage) fractured in an uneven pattern.
Habit:
Globular - Spherical, or nearly so, rounded forms (e.g. wavellite).
Habit:
Stalactitic - Shaped like pendant columns as stalactites or stalagmites (e.g. calcite).
Habit:
Tabular - Form dimensions are thin in one direction.
Hardness:
6-6.5 - Orthoclase-Pyrite
Luminescence:
Non-fluorescent.
Luster:
Metallic
Magnetism:
Magnetic after heating
Streak:
gray brownish black
Optical Properties of Marcasite
RL Anisotrophism:
Very strong, yellow through light green to dark green.
RL Pleochroism:
Creamy white [100], light yellowish white [010], white with rose-brown tint [001].
Reflectivity
Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Marcasite in Air
λ
R1
R2
∑ R1(λ)
∑ R2(λ)
400 nm
40.60
45.10
420 nm
42.20
46.00
440 nm
43.80
48.50
460 nm
44.80
50.30
480 nm
45.50
52.10
500 nm
46.20
54.10
520 nm
47.40
55.40
540 nm
48.60
55.50
560 nm
49.20
54.90
580 nm
49.10
54.10
600 nm
48.90
53.50
620 nm
48.60
52.80
640 nm
47.80
52.20
660 nm
47.20
51.60
680 nm
46.60
51.10
700 nm
46.20
50.60
Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Marcasite in Air
Relative Intensity
0%
30%
60%
90%
100%
120%
150%
180%
200%
R1
R2
Calculated Properties of Marcasite
Electron Density:
Bulk Density (Electron Density)=4.72 gm/cc note: Specific Gravity of Marcasite =4.88 gm/cc.
Fermion Index:
Fermion Index = 0.01 Boson Index = 0.99
Photoelectric:
PEMarcasite = 16.89 barns/electron U=PEMarcasite x rElectron Density= 79.71 barns/cc.
Radioactivity:
GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units) Marcasite is Not Radioactive
Marcasite Classification
Dana Class:
02.12.02.01(02)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides
Chemical Formula: 
