Mineralogy Database

Pyrite Mineral Data

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General Pyrite 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, magmatic, metamorphic, and hydrothermal deposits.
Help on IMA Status: IMA Status: Valid Species (Pre-IMA) Prehistoric
Help on Locality: Locality: Common world wide. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.
Help on Name Origin: 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.
Help on Name Pronunciation: Name Pronunciation: Pyrite Say PYRITE
Help on Synonym: Synonym: Bravoite-Ni
  Cobaltian Pyrite
  Fool's Gold
  ICSD 316
  PDF 42-1340
 

Pyrite Image

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  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

Help on Cell Dimensions: Cell Dimensions: a = 5.417, Z = 4; V = 158.96 Den(Calc)= 5.01
Help on Crystal System: Crystal System: Isometric - Diploidal H-M Symbol (2/m 3) Space Group: P a3
Help on X Ray Diffraction: X Ray Diffraction: By Intensity(I/Io): 1.6332(1), 2.709(0.85), 2.423(0.65),
Help on Forms: Forms:

Mouse
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RMB - Cycle Display Modes
Drag1 - Manipulate Crystal
Drag2 - Resize

Keyboard
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I - Indicies
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Help on Above

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

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Physical Properties of Pyrite

Help on Cleavage: Cleavage: {100} Poor, {110} Poor
Help on Color: Color: Pale brass yellow.
Help on Density: Density: 5 - 5.02, Average = 5.01
Help on Diaphaneity: Diaphaneity: Opaque
Help on Fracture: Fracture: Conchoidal - Fractures developed in brittle materials characterized by smoothly curving surfaces, (e.g. quartz).
Help on Habit: Habit: Druse - Crystal growth in a cavity which results in numerous crystal tipped surfaces.
Help on Habit: Habit: Stalactitic - Shaped like pendant columns as stalactites or stalagmites (e.g. calcite).
Help on Habit: Habit: Striated - Parallel lines on crystal surface or cleavage face.
Help on Hardness: Hardness: 6.5 - Pyrite
Help on Luminescence: Luminescence: Non-fluorescent.
Help on Luster: Luster: Metallic
Help on Magnetism: Magnetism: Magnetic after heating
Help on Streak: Streak: greenish black
 

Optical Properties of Pyrite

Help on RL Color: RL Color: Creamy white.
Help on Reflectivity 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

Help on Electron Density: Electron Density: Bulk Density (Electron Density)=4.84 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Pyrite =5.01 gm/cc.
Help on Fermion Index: Fermion Index: Fermion Index = 0.01
Boson Index = 0.99
Help on Photoelectric: Photoelectric: PEPyrite = 16.89 barns/electron
U=PEPyrite x rElectron Density= 81.83 barns/cc.
Help on Radioactivity: Radioactivity: GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Pyrite is Not Radioactive
 

Pyrite Classification

Help on  Dana Class: Dana Class: 02.12.01.01 (02)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides
  (02.12)where Am Bn Xp, with (m+n):p=1:2
  (02.12.01)Pyrite Group (Isometric: Pa3)
 
02.12.01.01 Pyrite FeS2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.12.01.02 Vaesite NiS2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.12.01.03 Cattierite CoS2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.12.01.04 Penroseite (Ni,Co,Cu)Se2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.12.01.05 Trogtalite CoSe2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.12.01.06 Villamaninite (Cu,Ni,Co,Fe)S2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.12.01.07 Fukuchilite Cu3FeS8 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.12.01.08 Krutaite CuSe2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.12.01.09 Hauerite MnS2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.12.01.10 Laurite RuS2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.12.01.11 Aurostibite AuSb2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.12.01.12 Krutovite NiAs2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.12.01.13 Sperrylite PtAs2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.12.01.14 Geversite Pt(Sb,Bi)2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.12.01.15 Insizwaite Pt(Bi,Sb)2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.12.01.16 Erlichmanite OsS2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.12.01.17 Dzharkenite FeSe2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.12.01.18 Gaotaiite Ir3Te8 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.12.01.19 Mayingite IrBiTe P a3 2/m 3
Help on  Strunz Class: Strunz Class: 02.EB.05a 02 - SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulf
  02.E - Metal Sulfides, M:S � 1:2
  02.EB -M:S = 1:2, with Fe, Co, Ni, PGE, etc.
 
02.EB.05a Aurostibite AuSb2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.EB.05a Cattierite CoS2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.EB.05a Hauerite MnS2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.EB.05a Fukuchilite Cu3FeS8 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.EB.05a Dzharkenite FeSe2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.EB.05a Erlichmanite OsS2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.EB.05a Geversite Pt(Sb,Bi)2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.EB.05a Gaotaiite Ir3Te8 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.EB.05a Insizwaite Pt(Bi,Sb)2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.EB.05a Laurite RuS2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.EB.05a Krutaite CuSe2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.EB.05a Pyrite FeS2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.EB.05a Penroseite (Ni,Co,Cu)Se2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.EB.05a Sperrylite PtAs2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.EB.05a Vaesite NiS2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.EB.05a Villamaninite (Cu,Ni,Co,Fe)S2 P a3 2/m 3
 
02.EB.05a Trogtalite CoSe2 P a3 2/m 3
 

Other Pyrite 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 Pyrite :
1 - Alkali-Nuts(English)
2 - Alkali-Nuts(Francais)
3 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
4 - Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery
5 - Athena
6 - CalTech Mineral Spectroscopy
7 - EUROmin Project
8 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
9 - Franklin Minerals(Dunn)
10 - Franklin Minerals(Palache)
11 - GeoScienceWorld
12 - Glendale Community College
13 - Google Images
14 - Google Scholar
15 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
16 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
17 - HyperPhysics
18 - HyperPhysics
19 - MinDAT
20 - Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom
21 - Mineral of the Month
22 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
23 - NSDL Reciprocal Net (JAVA)
24 - Online Mineral Museum
25 - Philatelic Mineralogy
26 - QUT Mineral Atlas
27 - Ruff.Info
28 - Scandinavian mineral gallery
29 - Tradeshop.com - The Rainbow of Gems
30 - WWW-MINCRYST
31 - YupRocks
32 - theimage

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

Pyrite

FeS2
Dana No: 02.12.01.01 Strunz No: 02.EB.05a
Locality:

 

Notes:

 

 
   
 


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