Pyrite Mineral Data

Pyrite Mineral Data +

General Pyrite Information

Chemical Formula:

FeS2

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 119.98 gm

Iron 46.55 % Fe

Sulfur 53.45 % S

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

Fe²⁺S₂

Environment:

Sedimentary, magmatic, metamorphic, and hydrothermal deposits.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) Prehistoric

Locality:

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

Name Origin:

From the Greek, pyrites lithos, "stone which strikes fire," in allusion to the sparking produced when iron is struck by a lump of pyrite.

Synonym:

Bravoite-Ni

Cobaltian Pyrite

Fool's Gold

ICSD 316

PDF 42-1340

Pyrite Image

Images:

Pyrite

Comments: Lustrous 1 - 2 cm cubes of pyrite encased in a very fine-grained sedimentary marlstone (clay and calcite).
Location: Navajun-(La Rioja)-Spain. Scale: 6x5x3 cm.
© Dave Barthelmy

Pyrite Crystallography

Cell Dimensions:

a = 5.417, Z = 4; V = 158.96 Den(Calc)= 5.01

Crystal System:

Isometric - DiploidalH-M Symbol (2/m 3) Space Group: P a3

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 1.6332(1), 2.709(0.85), 2.423(0.65),

Forms:

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

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Crystal Structure:

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Bayliss P , American Mineralogist , 62 (1977) p.1168-1172, Crystal structure refinement of a weakly anisotropic pyrite, cubic model

View Additional jPOWD Structure files for Pyrite
[1] [2] [3] [4]

Physical Properties of Pyrite

Cleavage:

[100] Poor, [110] Poor

Color:

Pale brass yellow.

Density:

5 - 5.02, Average = 5.01

Diaphaniety:

Opaque

Fracture:

Conchoidal - Fractures developed in brittle materials characterized by smoothly curving surfaces, (e.g. quartz).

Habit:

Druse - Crystal growth in a cavity which results in numerous crystal tipped surfaces.

Habit:

Stalactitic - Shaped like pendant columns as stalactites or stalagmites (e.g. calcite).

Habit:

Striated - Parallel lines on crystal surface or cleavage face.

Hardness:

6.5 - Pyrite

Luminescence:

None.

Luster:

Metallic

Magnetism:

Magnetic after heating

Streak:

greenish black

Optical Properties of Pyrite

RL Color:

Creamy white.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Pyrite in Air**
λ	R	∑ R(λ)
400 nm	38.20
420 nm	40.50
440 nm	42.80
460 nm	45.50
480 nm	48.50
500 nm	51.00
520 nm	53.60
540 nm	53.80
560 nm	54.60
580 nm	55.00
600 nm	55.20
620 nm	55.50
640 nm	56.00
660 nm	56.40
680 nm	56.80
700 nm	57.00

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Pyrite in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	30%	60%	90%	100%	120%	150%	180%	200%
R

Calculated Properties of Pyrite

Electron Density:

r_electron=4.84 gm/cc
note: r_Pyrite=5.01 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.01387
Boson Index = 0.98613

Photoelectric:

PE_Pyrite= 16.89 barns/electron
U=PE_Pyrite x r_electron= 81.83 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Pyrite is Not Radioactive

Pyrite Classification

Dana Class:

2.12.1.1 (2)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides

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

(2.12.1)Pyrite Group (Isometric: Pa3)

2.12.1.1 Pyrite FeS2 P a3 2/m 3

2.12.1.2 Vaesite NiS2 P a3 2/m 3

2.12.1.3 Cattierite CoS2 P a3 2/m 3

2.12.1.4 Penroseite (Ni,Co,Cu)Se2 P a3 2/m 3

2.12.1.5 Trogtalite CoSe2 P a3 2/m 3

2.12.1.6 Villamaninite (Cu,Ni,Co,Fe)S2 P a3 2/m 3

2.12.1.7 Fukuchilite Cu3FeS8 P a3 2/m 3

2.12.1.8 Krutaite CuSe2 P a3 2/m 3

2.12.1.9 Hauerite MnS2 P a3 2/m 3

2.12.1.10 Laurite RuS2 P a3 2/m 3

2.12.1.11 Aurostibite AuSb2 P a3 2/m 3

2.12.1.12 Krutovite NiAs2 P a3 2/m 3

2.12.1.13 Sperrylite PtAs2 P a3 2/m 3

2.12.1.14 Geversite Pt(Sb,Bi)2 P a3 2/m 3

2.12.1.15 Insizwaite Pt(Bi,Sb)2 P a3 2/m 3

2.12.1.16 Erlichmanite OsS2 P a3 2/m 3

2.12.1.17 Dzharkenite FeSe2 P a3 2/m 3

2.12.1.18 Gaotaiite Ir3Te8 P a3 2/m 3

2.12.1.19 Mayingite IrBiTe P a3 2/m 3

Strunz Class:

II/D.17-30 II - Sulfides and sulphosalts

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

II/D.17 - Pyrite group and related compounds, Fukuchilite - Micherenite

II/D.17-10 Fukuchilite Cu3FeS8 P a3 2/m 3

II/D.17-20 Villamaninite (Cu,Ni,Co,Fe)S2 P a3 2/m 3

II/D.17-30 Pyrite FeS2 P a3 2/m 3

II/D.17-40 Cattierite CoS2 P a3 2/m 3

II/D.17-50 Vaesite NiS2 P a3 2/m 3

II/D.17-60 Hauerite MnS2 P a3 2/m 3

II/D.17-65 Dzharkenite FeSe2 P a3 2/m 3

II/D.17-70 Krutaite CuSe2 P a3 2/m 3

II/D.17-80 Trogtalite CoSe2 P a3 2/m 3

II/D.17-90 Penroseite (Ni,Co,Cu)Se2 P a3 2/m 3

II/D.17-100 Laurite RuS2 P a3 2/m 3

II/D.17-110 Erlichmanite OsS2 P a3 2/m 3

II/D.17-120 Sperrylite PtAs2 P a3 2/m 3

II/D.17-130 Aurostibite AuSb2 P a3 2/m 3

II/D.17-140 Geversite Pt(Sb,Bi)2 P a3 2/m 3

II/D.17-150 Insizwaite Pt(Bi,Sb)2 P a3 2/m 3

II/D.17-153 Changchengite! IrBiS P 2₁3 2 3

II/D.17-155 Mayingite IrBiTe P a3 2/m 3

II/D.17-160 Maslovite PtBiTe P 2₁3 2 3

II/D.17-170 Testibiopalladite PdTe(Sb,Te) P 2₁3 2 3

II/D.17-175 Padmaite PdBiSe P 2₁3 2 3

II/D.17-180 Michenerite (Pd,Pt)BiTe P 2₁3 2 3

Other Pyrite Information

References:

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

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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Pyrite Specimen Label here :

Pyrite

FeS2
Dana No: 2.12.1.1 Strunz No: II/D.17-30
Locality:

Notes: