Marcasite Mineral Data + Say MARCASITE


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General Marcasite Information
Help on Chemical Formula: Chemical Formula: FeS2
Help on Composition: Composition: Molecular Weight = 119.98 gm
   Iron    46.55 %  Fe
   Sulfur  53.45 %  S
          ______ 
          100.00 % 
Help on Empirical Formula: Empirical Formula: Fe2+S2
Help on Environment: Environment: Sedimentary, hydrothermal, and secondary mineral.
Help on IMA Status: IMA Status: Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1845
Help on Locality: Locality: Common world wide. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.
Help on Name Origin: Name Origin: Arabic or Moorish name for pyrites and similar material of uncertain origin.
Help on Synonym: Synonym: ICSD 26756
  PDF 37-475
 

Marcasite Image

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Marcasite

Comments: Metallic, brassy-colored marcasite with minor translucent quartz and white dolomite.
Location: Panasqueira (3rd level), in the region of Beira Baixa, Portugal. Scale: 8 x 5.5 cm.
© Fabre Minerals

Marcasite Crystallography
Help on Axial Ratios: Axial Ratios: a:b:c =0.8193:1:0.6245
Help on Cell Dimensions: Cell Dimensions: a = 4.445, b = 5.425, c = 3.388, Z = 2; V = 81.70 Den(Calc)= 4.88
Help on Crystal System: Crystal System: Orthorhombic - DipyramidalH-M Symbol (2/m 2/m 2/m) Space Group: Pnnm
Help on X Ray Diffraction: X Ray Diffraction: By Intensity(I/Io): 2.71(1), 1.76(0.63), 3.44(0.4),
Help on Forms: Forms:

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Forms: [ 0 1 0] [ 1 0 1] [ 1 1 0] [ 1 3 0]

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Buerger M J , American Mineralogist , 16 (1931) p.361-395, The crystal structure of marcasite

 

Physical Properties of Marcasite

Help on Cleavage: Cleavage: [010] Indistinct
Help on Color: Color: Bronze, Light brass yellow, Tin white.
Help on Density: Density: 4.89
Help on Diaphaniety: Diaphaniety: Opaque
Help on Fracture: Fracture: Uneven - Flat surfaces (not cleavage) fractured in an uneven pattern.
Help on Habit: Habit: Globular - Spherical, or nearly so, rounded forms (e.g. wavellite).
Help on Habit: Habit: Stalactitic - Shaped like pendant columns as stalactites or stalagmites (e.g. calcite).
Help on Habit: Habit: Tabular - Form dimensions are thin in one direction.
Help on Hardness: Hardness: 6-6.5 - Orthoclase-Pyrite
Help on Luminescence: Luminescence: None.
Help on Luster: Luster: Metallic
Help on Magnetism: Magnetism: Magnetic after heating
Help on Streak: Streak: gray brownish black
 

Optical Properties of Marcasite

Help on RL Anisotrophism: RL Anisotrophism: Very strong, yellow through light green to dark green.
Help on RL Pleochroism: RL Pleochroism: Creamy white [100], light yellowish white [010], white with rose-brown tint [001].
Help on Reflectivity 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

Help on Electron Density: Electron Density:

relectron=4.72 gm/cc
note: rMarcasite =4.88 gm/cc.
Help on Fermion Index Fermion Index Fermion Index = 0.01387
Boson Index = 0.98613
Help on Photoelectric: Photoelectric:

PEMarcasite = 16.89 barns/electron
U=PEMarcasite x relectron= 79.71 barns/cc.
Help on Radioactivity: Radioactivity: GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Marcasite is Not Radioactive
 

Marcasite Classification
Help on Dana Class: Dana Class: 2.12.2.1 (2)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides
  (2.12)where Am Bn Xp, with (m+n):p=1:2
  (2.12.2)Marcasite Group (Orthorhombic: Pnnm)
 
2.12.2.1 Marcasite FeS2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
2.12.2.2 Ferroselite FeSe2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
2.12.2.3 Frohbergite FeTe2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
2.12.2.4 Hastite CoSe2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
2.12.2.5 Mattagamite CoTe2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
2.12.2.6 Kullerudite NiSe2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
2.12.2.7 Omeiite (Os,Ru)As2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
2.12.2.8 Anduoite (Ru,Os)As2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
2.12.2.9 Lollingite FeAs2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
2.12.2.10 Seinajokite (Fe,Ni)(Sb,As)2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
2.12.2.11 Safflorite (Co,Fe)As2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
2.12.2.12 Rammelsbergite NiAs2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
2.12.2.13 Nisbite NiSb2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
Help on Strunz Class: Strunz Class: II/D.20-10 II - Sulfides and sulphosalts
  II/D - Sulfides with metal: sulfur, selenium and tellurium < 1:1, Tellurides with Copper, Silver, Gold
  II/D.20 - Markasite - Iridarsenite series
 
II/D.20-10 Marcasite FeS2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
II/D.20-20 Ferroselite FeSe2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
II/D.20-30 Hastite CoSe2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
II/D.20-40 Kullerudite NiSe2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
II/D.20-50 Frohbergite FeTe2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
II/D.20-60 Mattagamite CoTe2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
II/D.20-70 Anduoite (Ru,Os)As2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
II/D.20-80 Omeiite (Os,Ru)As2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
II/D.20-90 Iridarsenite (Ir,Ru)As2 P 21/c 2/m
 

Other Marcasite Information
Help on References: References: NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)
Help on See Also: See Also: Links to other databases for Marcasite :
1 - Alkali-Nuts(English) 2 - Alkali-Nuts(Francais) 3 -Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database 4 - Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery 5 - Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery 6 - Applied Mineralogy 7 -Athena 8 - Crocoite.com Mineral Locations 9 - EUROmin Project 10 - Franklin Minerals(Dunn) 11 - Franklin Minerals(Palache) 12 - Glendale Community College 13 -Google Images 14 -Google Scholar 15 -Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA) 16 -MinDAT 17 -MinMax(Deutsch) 18 -MinMax(English) 19 - Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom 20 -Mineralienatlas (Deutsch) 21 - Minerals of Wisconsin 22 -NSDL Reciprocal Net (JAVA) 23 - Philatelic Mineralogy 24 -QUT Mineral Atlas 25 - Scandinavian mineral gallery 26 - Tradeshop.com - The Rainbow of Gems 27 - University of Manchester - Mineral Structure 28 - WWW-MINCRYST 29 -École des Mines de Paris

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Marcasite

FeS2
Dana No: 2.12.2.1 Strunz No: II/D.20-10
Locality:

 

Notes:

 
 
   
 
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