Molybdenite Mineral Data

Molybdenite Mineral Data +

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General Molybdenite Information

Chemical Formula:

MoS2

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 160.07 gm

Molybdenum 59.94 % Mo

Sulfur 40.06 % S

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

MoS₂

Environment:

High temperature hydrothermal veins. Important in disseminated deposits of the porphyry type.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1807

Locality:

Common world wide occurrences. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Greek, molybdos = "lead."

Synonym:

Castaingite-(Cu)

Molybdic ochre

Molybdenite Image

Images:

Molybdenite

Comments: Sharp metallic molybdenite crystal on matrix.
Location: Crown Point Mine, Washington. Scale: 4x4x2.3 cm.
© Isaias Casanova / IC Minerals

Molybdenite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:c = 1:3.8924

Cell Dimensions:

a = 3.16, c = 12.3, Z = 2; V = 106.37 Den(Calc)= 5.00

Crystal System:

Hexagonal - Dihexagonal DipyramidalH-M Symbol (6/m 2/m 2/m) Space Group: P 6₃/mmc

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 6.15(1), 2.277(0.45), 1.83(0.25),

Forms:

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Forms: [ 1 0 2] [ 1 0 1] [ 0 1 0] [ 0 0 1]

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Crystal Structure:

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Schonfeld B , Huang J J , Moss S C , Acta Crystallographica, Section B , 39 (1983) p.404-407, Anisotropic mean-square displacements (MSD) in single crystals, of 2H- and 3R-MoS2, Note: 2H polytype, this is the most common in nature, Locality: synthetic

View Additional jPOWD Structure files for Molybdenite
[1] [2]

Physical Properties of Molybdenite

Cleavage:

[0001] Perfect

Color:

Black, Lead gray, Gray.

Density:

5.5

Diaphaniety:

Opaque

Fracture:

Sectile - Curved shavings or scrapings produced by a knife blade, (e.g. graphite).

Habit:

Disseminated - Occurs in small, distinct particles dispersed in matrix.

Habit:

Foliated - Two dimensional platy forms.

Habit:

Massive - Uniformly indistinguishable crystals forming large masses.

Hardness:

1 - Talc

Luminescence:

None.

Luster:

Metallic

Magnetism:

Nonmagnetic

Streak:

greenish gray

Optical Properties of Molybdenite

RL Anisotrophism:

Very strong.

RL Color:

Gray, very pale yellow to deep reddish brown in transmitted light.

RL Pleochroism:

Very strong.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Molybdenite in Air**
λ	R₁	R₂	∑ R₁(λ)	∑ R₂(λ)
400 nm	21.00	55.00
420 nm	22.20	54.80
440 nm	23.40	54.60
460 nm	24.10	53.80
480 nm	23.80	52.30
500 nm	22.70	49.70
520 nm	21.90	47.10
540 nm	21.30	45.50
560 nm	20.90	44.40
580 nm	20.60	44.00
600 nm	20.40	44.60
620 nm	20.20	45.30
640 nm	20.00	45.70
660 nm	20.00	45.60
680 nm	19.90	45.40
700 nm	19.70	44.20

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Molybdenite in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	50%	100%	150%	200%	250%	300%	350%	400%	430%
R₁
R₂

Calculated Properties of Molybdenite

Electron Density:

r_electron=4.62 gm/cc
note: r_Molybdenite=5.00 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.15566
Boson Index = 0.84434

Photoelectric:

PE_Molybdenite= 101.34 barns/electron
U=PE_Molybdenite x r_electron= 468.49 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Molybdenite is Not Radioactive

Molybdenite Classification

Dana Class:

2.12.10.1 (2)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides

(2.12)where Am Bn Xp, with (m+n):p=1:2

(2.12.10)Dana Group

2.12.10.1 Molybdenite MoS2 P 6₃/mmc 6/m 2/m 2/m

2.12.10.2 Drysdallite Mo(Se,S)2 P 6₃/mmc 6/m 2/m 2/m

2.12.10.3 Tungstenite WS2 P 6₃/mmc 6/m 2/m 2/m

Strunz Class:

II/D.25-10 II - Sulfides and sulphosalts

II/D - Sulfides with metal: sulfur, selenium and tellurium < 1:1, Tellurides with Copper, Silver, Gold

II/D.25 - Molybdenite series

II/D.25-05 IMA1999-004a! ReS2 P1 1

II/D.25-10 Molybdenite MoS2 P 6₃/mmc 6/m 2/m 2/m

II/D.25-20 Jordisite MoS2 None

II/D.25-30 Drysdallite Mo(Se,S)2 P 6₃/mmc 6/m 2/m 2/m

II/D.25-40 Tungstenite WS2 P 6₃/mmc 6/m 2/m 2/m

Other Molybdenite Information

References:

NAME( Sinkankas66) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)

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Molybdenite

MoS2
Dana No: 2.12.10.1 Strunz No: II/D.25-10
Locality:

Notes: