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Pyrrhotite Mineral Data

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General Pyrrhotite Information

Help on Chemical Formula: Chemical Formula: Fe(1-x)S (x=0-0.17)
Help on Composition: Composition: Molecular Weight = 85.12 gm
   Iron    62.33 %  Fe
   Sulfur  37.67 %  S
          ______ 
          100.00 % 
Help on Empirical Formula: Empirical Formula: Fe2+0.95S
Help on Environment: Environment: Wide spread occurrences in igneous and metamorphic rocks.
Help on IMA Status: IMA Status: Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1835
Help on Locality: Locality: Sudbury, Ontario, Canada and Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua, Mexico. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.
Help on Name Origin: Name Origin: From the Greek, phrrhotes, "redness," in allusion to color.
Help on Name Pronunciation: Name Pronunciation: Pyrrhotite + Pronunciation Say PYRRHOTITE
Help on Synonym: Synonym: Magnetic pyrites
 

Pyrrhotite Image

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  Pyrrhotite

Comments: Lustrous sharp crystals of pyrrhotite to 3.5 cm in size with minor sphalerite and chalcopyrite.
Location: Nikolaevskiy mine, Dal'negors, Primorskiy Kray, Russia. Scale: 4 x 5 x 5.5 cm.
© Dan Weinrich

Pyrrhotite Crystallography
Help on Axial Ratios: Axial Ratios: a:b:c =1.8647:1:1.7299
Help on Cell Dimensions: Cell Dimensions: a = 12.811, b = 6.87, c = 11.885, Z = 26; beta = 117.3° V = 929.51 Den(Calc)= 3.95
Help on Crystal System: Crystal System: Monoclinic - Prismatic H-M Symbol (2/m) Space Group: A2/a
Help on X Ray Diffraction: X Ray Diffraction: By Intensity(I/Io): 2.057(1), 2.635(0.9), 2.966(0.9),
Help on Forms: Forms:

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Help on Above

Forms: ( 1 1 0) ( 1 1 2) ( 1 0 2) ( 1 0 0) ( 0 0 1)

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Physical Properties of Pyrrhotite

Help on Cleavage: Cleavage: {0001} Imperfect, {1120} Imperfect
Help on Color: Color: Bronze, Bronze red, Dark brown.
Help on Density: Density: 4.58 - 4.65, Average = 4.61
Help on Diaphaneity: Diaphaneity: Opaque
Help on Fracture: Fracture: Uneven - Flat surfaces (not cleavage) fractured in an uneven pattern.
Help on Habit: Habit: Massive - Granular - Common texture observed in granite and other igneous rock.
Help on Habit: Habit: Platy - Sheet forms (e.g. micas).
Help on Habit: Habit: Tabular - Form dimensions are thin in one direction.
Help on Hardness: Hardness: 3.5-4 - Copper Penny-Fluorite
Help on Luminescence: Luminescence: Non-fluorescent.
Help on Luster: Luster: Metallic
Help on Magnetism: Magnetism: Naturally strong
Help on Streak: Streak: gray black
 

Optical Properties of Pyrrhotite

Help on RL Anisotrophism: RL Anisotrophism: Strong.
Help on RL Pleochroism: RL Pleochroism: Weak.
Help on Reflectivity Reflectivity
Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Pyrrhotite in Air
λ R1 R2  ∑ R1(λ)   ∑ R2(λ) 
 400 nm   27.90   31.00 
   
 420 nm   28.60   32.20 
 440 nm   29.40   33.60 
 460 nm   30.30   34.80 
 480 nm   31.40   36.20 
 500 nm   32.40   37.60 
 520 nm   33.40   38.60 
 540 nm   34.50   39.60 
 560 nm   35.50   40.40 
 580 nm   36.50   41.20 
 600 nm   37.40   42.00 
 620 nm   38.30   42.60 
 640 nm   39.10   43.00 
 660 nm   39.90   43.50 
 680 nm   40.70   43.90 
 700 nm   41.40   44.10 
Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Pyrrhotite in Air
Relative
Intensity		    0%   40%   80% 100% 120% 160% 200% 240% 280% 300%
R1                    
R2                    
 

Calculated Properties of Pyrrhotite

Help on Electron Density: Electron Density: Bulk Density (Electron Density)=3.78 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Pyrrhotite =3.95 gm/cc.
Help on Fermion Index: Fermion Index: Fermion Index = 0.01
Boson Index = 0.99
Help on Photoelectric: Photoelectric: PEPyrrhotite = 20.96 barns/electron
U=PEPyrrhotite x rElectron Density= 79.17 barns/cc.
Help on Radioactivity: Radioactivity: GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Pyrrhotite is Not Radioactive
 

Pyrrhotite Classification
Help on Dana Class: Dana Class: 02.08.10.01 (02)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides
  (02.08)where Am Bn Xp, with (m+n):p=1:1
  (02.08.10)Dana Group
 
02.08.10.01 Pyrrhotite Fe(1-x)S(x=0-0.17) A2/a 2/m
 
02.08.10.02 Smythite (Fe,Ni)9S11or(Fe,Ni)13S16 R 3m 3 2/m
Help on Strunz Class: Strunz Class: 02.CC.10 02 - SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulf
  02.C - Metal Sulfides, M:S = 1:1 (and similar)
  02.CC -With Ni, Fe, Co, PGE, etc.
 
02.CC.10 Smythite (Fe,Ni)9S11or(Fe,Ni)13S16 R 3m 3 2/m
 
02.CC.10 Pyrrhotite Fe(1-x)S(x=0-0.17) A2/a 2/m
 
02.CC.10 Troilite FeS P 63/mmc 6/m 2/m 2/m
 

Other Pyrrhotite Information
Help on References: References: NAME( Sinkankas66) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990)
Help on See Also: See Also: Links to other databases for Pyrrhotite :
1 - Alkali-Nuts(English)
2 - Alkali-Nuts(Francais)
3 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
4 - Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery
5 - Athena
6 - EUROmin Project
7 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
8 - Franklin Minerals(Dunn)
9 - Franklin Minerals(Palache)
10 - GeoScienceWorld
11 - Google Images
12 - Google Scholar
13 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
14 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
15 - HyperPhysics
16 - MinDAT
17 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
18 - NSDL Reciprocal Net (JAVA)
19 - Online Mineral Museum
20 - Philatelic Mineralogy
21 - QUT Mineral Atlas
22 - Ruff.Info
23 - Scandinavian mineral gallery
24 - WWW-MINCRYST

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Pyrrhotite

Fe(1-x)S (x=0-0.17)
Dana No: 02.08.10.01 Strunz No: 02.CC.10
Locality:

 

Notes:

 
 
   
 

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