Pyrite
| ID | 611 | |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral | Pyrite | |
| Location | Piedmont - Italy | |
| Fluorescence | LW-UV: close SW-UV: close |
|
| Mindat.org |
View Pyrite information at mindat.org |
|
Mindat data
| ID | 3314 |
|---|---|
| Long ID | 1:1:3314:1 |
| Formula |
FeS2
|
| IMA Status |
0 1 |
| Description | Pyrite Group. The isometric (cubic) polymorph of orthorhombic marcasite. However, some pyrites may be trigonal (pseudo-cubic; Moëlo, 2023). Compare UM1997-43-S:Fe. Pyrite is a very common mineral (also one of the most common natural sulfides, ... |
| Other Occurrences | Common in many rock types, igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary. |
| Diapheny | Opaque |
| Cleavage | Indistinct on {001}. |
| Tenacity | brittle |
| Colour | Pale brass-yellow |
| Hardness (min) | 6.0 |
| Hardness (max) | 6.5 |
| About the name | Named in antiquity from the Greek "pyr" for "fire", because sparks flew from it when struck with another mineral or metal. Known to Dioscorides (~50 CE) under the name "περι υληζ ιατρικηζ" which included both pyrite and chalcopyrite. |
| Streak | Greenish-black |
| Crystal System | Isometric |
| Cleavage Type | Poor/Indistinct |
| Fracture type | Irregular/Uneven,Conchoidal |
| Morphology | Typically cubic or pyritohedral (pentagonal dodecahedral), sometimes octahedral and combinations are common, resulting in striated faces. Less frequently octahedral, most commonly massive, granular, and sometimes radiating, reniform, discoidal or globular. |
| Twinning | On [110], interpenetrating ('Iron Cross Law'). Twin axis [001] and twin plane {011}, penetration and contact twins. Twinning on (111) was described by Nicol (1904), Goldschmidt and Nicol (1904) and Gaubert (1928), all of whom considered it rare. |
| UV | Not fluorescent in UV |
| Thermal Behaviour | Heated in a closed tube gives a sublimate of sulfur and a magnetic residue. |
| shortcode_ima | Py |
| Group | Pyrite Group |
Details
Price: € 3
Dimensions: Not registered
Weight: Not registered
Visibile in overview:
Notes:
| Symbol | Element | |
|---|---|---|
| Fe | Iron | |
| S | Sulfur |