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Pentlandite Mineral Data
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General Pentlandite Information
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Chemical Formula: |
(Fe,Ni)9S8 |
Composition: |
Molecular Weight = 771.94 gm |
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Iron 32.56 % Fe |
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Nickel 34.21 % Ni |
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Sulfur 33.23 % S |
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______ |
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100.00 % |
Empirical Formula: |
Fe2+4.5Ni4.5S8 |
Environment: |
Common as the sulfide phase in basic and ultra-basic intrusive igneous rocks. |
IMA Status: |
Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1856 |
Locality: |
Espedalen, near Lillihammer, Norway. Link to MinDat.org Location Data. |
Name Origin: |
Named after the Irish natural historian, J. B. Pentland (1797-1873). |
Name Pronunciation: |
Pentlandite + Pronunciation |
Synonym: |
Conifeite - cobalt pentlandite |
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ICSD 61021 |
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PDF Aug-90 |
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Pentlandite Image |
Images:
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Pentlandite
Comments: Ore sample of a mixture of several sulfide minerals: pentlandite, chalcopyrite, and pyrrhotite.
Location: Frood-Stobie Mine, Sudbury District, Ontario, Canada.
Scale: 20x15x7 mm.
© John Betts - Fine Minerals |
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Images:
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Plumbopalladinite Valleriite Cubanite Pentlandite
Comments: Polished Section image (PPL) of plumbopalladinite (Pl) with polarite Po), surrounded by a rim of isoferroplatinum (Iso) with cubanite (Cu), pentlandite (Pe), and valleriite (Va).
Location: Majak Mine, Talnakh, Norilsk, Ural, Russia.
Scale: Picture Size 0.7 mm.
© Thomas Witzke |
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Pentlandite Crystallography
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Cell Dimensions: |
a = 10.04, Z = 4; V = 1,012.05 Den(Calc)= 5.07 |
Crystal System: |
Isometric - Hexoctahedral H-M Symbol (4/m 3 2/m) Space Group: F m3m |
X Ray Diffraction: |
By Intensity(I/Io): 1.775(1), 3.03(0.8), 1.931(0.5), |
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Physical Properties of Pentlandite
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Cleavage: |
None |
Color: |
Bronze, Brown. |
Density: |
4.6 - 5, Average = 4.8 |
Diaphaneity: |
Opaque |
Fracture: |
Conchoidal - Fractures developed in brittle materials characterized by smoothly curving surfaces, (e.g. quartz). |
Habit: |
Granular - Generally occurs as anhedral to subhedral crystals in matrix. |
Habit: |
Granular - Generally occurs as anhedral to subhedral crystals in matrix. |
Habit: |
Massive - Granular - Common texture observed in granite and other igneous rock. |
Hardness: |
3.5-4 - Copper Penny-Fluorite |
Luminescence: |
Non-fluorescent. |
Luster: |
Metallic |
Magnetism: |
Nonmagnetic |
Streak: |
greenish black |
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Optical Properties of Pentlandite
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RL Pleochroism: |
None. |
Reflectivity |
Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Pentlandite in Air
λ |
R |
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∑ R(λ) |
400 nm |
30.90 |
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420 nm |
34.80 |
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440 nm |
38.70 |
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460 nm |
41.80 |
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480 nm |
44.20 |
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500 nm |
46.30 |
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520 nm |
47.90 |
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540 nm |
49.20 |
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560 nm |
50.40 |
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580 nm |
51.10 |
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600 nm |
52.30 |
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620 nm |
53.10 |
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640 nm |
53.80 |
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660 nm |
54.50 |
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680 nm |
55.00 |
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700 nm |
55.60 |
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Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Pentlandite in Air
Relative Intensity |
0% |
30% |
60% |
90% |
100% |
120% |
150% |
180% |
210% |
230% |
R |
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Calculated Properties of Pentlandite
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Electron Density: |
Bulk Density (Electron Density)=4.87 gm/cc note: Specific Gravity of Pentlandite =5.07 gm/cc. |
Fermion Index: |
Fermion Index = 0.01 Boson Index = 0.99 |
Photoelectric: |
PEPentlandite = 25.41 barns/electron U=PEPentlandite x rElectron Density= 123.85 barns/cc. |
Radioactivity: |
GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units) Pentlandite is Not Radioactive |
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Pentlandite Classification
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Dana Class: |
02.07.01.01 (02)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides |
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(02.07)where Am Bn Xp, with (m+n):p=9:8 |
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(02.07.01)Pentalndite Group (Isometric: Fm3m) |
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02.07.01.01 Pentlandite (Fe,Ni)9S8 F m3m 4/m 3 2/m |
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02.07.01.02 Argentopentlandite Ag(Fe,Ni)8S8 F m3m 4/m 3 2/m |
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02.07.01.03 Cobaltpentlandite Co9S8 F m3m 4/m 3 2/m |
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02.07.01.04 Shadlunite (Pb,Cd)(Fe,Cu)8S8 F m3m 4/m 3 2/m |
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02.07.01.05 Manganoshadlunite (Mn,Pb)(Cu,Fe)8S8 F m3m 4/m 3 2/m |
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02.07.01.06 Geffroyite (Ag,Cu,Fe)9(Se,S)8 F m3m 4/m 3 2/m |
Strunz Class: |
02.BB.15a 02 - SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulf |
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02.B - Metal Sulfides, M:S > 1:1 (mainly 2:1) |
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02.BB -With Ni, Fe |
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02.BB.15a Argentopentlandite Ag(Fe,Ni)8S8 F m3m 4/m 3 2/m |
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02.BB.15a Cobaltpentlandite Co9S8 F m3m 4/m 3 2/m |
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02.BB.15a Geffroyite (Ag,Cu,Fe)9(Se,S)8 F m3m 4/m 3 2/m |
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02.BB.15a Manganoshadlunite (Mn,Pb)(Cu,Fe)8S8 F m3m 4/m 3 2/m |
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02.BB.15a Pentlandite (Fe,Ni)9S8 F m3m 4/m 3 2/m |
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02.BB.15a Shadlunite (Pb,Cd)(Fe,Cu)8S8 F m3m 4/m 3 2/m |
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Other Pentlandite Information
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References: |
NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1) |
See Also: |
Links to other databases for Pentlandite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery
3 - Athena
4 - EUROmin Project
5 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
6 - GeoScienceWorld
7 - Google Images
8 - Google Scholar
9 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
10 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
11 - MinDAT
12 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
13 - Online Mineral Museum
14 - QUT Mineral Atlas
15 - Ruff.Info
16 - Scandinavian mineral gallery
17 - WWW-MINCRYST
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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Pentlandite Specimen Label here :
Pentlandite
(Fe,Ni)9S8
Dana No: 02.07.01.01 Strunz No: 02.BB.15a
Locality:
Notes:
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