Marcasite Mineral Data

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General Marcasite 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, hydrothermal, and secondary mineral.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1845

Locality:

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

Name Origin:

Arabic or Moorish name for pyrites and similar material of uncertain origin.

Name Pronunciation:

Marcasite + Pronunciation

Synonym:

ICSD 26756

PDF 37-475

Marcasite Image

Images:

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

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.8193:1:0.6245

Cell Dimensions:

a = 4.445, b = 5.425, c = 3.388, Z = 2; V = 81.70 Den(Calc)= 4.88

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/I_o): 2.71(1), 1.76(0.63), 3.44(0.4),

Forms:

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Forms: ( 0 1 0) ( 1 0 1) ( 1 1 0) ( 1 3 0)

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Crystal Structure:

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

Physical Properties of Marcasite

Cleavage:

{010} Indistinct

Color:

Bronze, Light brass yellow, Tin white.

Density:

4.89

Diaphaneity:

Opaque

Fracture:

Uneven - Flat surfaces (not cleavage) fractured in an uneven pattern.

Habit:

Globular - Spherical, or nearly so, rounded forms (e.g. wavellite).

Habit:

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

Habit:

Tabular - Form dimensions are thin in one direction.

Hardness:

6-6.5 - Orthoclase-Pyrite

Luminescence:

Non-fluorescent.

Luster:

Metallic

Magnetism:

Magnetic after heating

Streak:

gray brownish black

Optical Properties of Marcasite

RL Anisotrophism:

Very strong, yellow through light green to dark green.

RL Pleochroism:

Creamy white [100], light yellowish white [010], white with rose-brown tint [001].

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

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=4.72 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Marcasite =4.88 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.01
Boson Index = 0.99

Photoelectric:

PE_Marcasite= 16.89 barns/electron
U=PE_Marcasite x rElectron Density= 79.71 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Marcasite is Not Radioactive

Marcasite Classification

Dana Class:

02.12.02.01 (02)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides

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

(02.12.02)Marcasite Group (Orthorhombic: Pnnm)

02.12.02.01 Marcasite FeS2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

02.12.02.02 Ferroselite FeSe2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

02.12.02.03 Frohbergite FeTe2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

02.12.02.04 Hastite? CoSe2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

02.12.02.05 Mattagamite CoTe2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

02.12.02.06 Kullerudite NiSe2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

02.12.02.07 Omeiite (Os,Ru)As2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

02.12.02.08 Anduoite (Ru,Os)As2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

02.12.02.09 Lollingite FeAs2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

02.12.02.10 Seinajokite (Fe,Ni)(Sb,As)2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

02.12.02.11 Safflorite (Co,Fe)As2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

02.12.02.12 Rammelsbergite NiAs2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

02.12.02.13 Nisbite NiSb2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

Strunz Class:

02.EB.10a 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.10a Frohbergite FeTe2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

02.EB.10a Hastite? CoSe2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

02.EB.10a Ferroselite FeSe2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

02.EB.10a Kullerudite NiSe2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

02.EB.10a Mattagamite CoTe2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

02.EB.10a Marcasite FeS2 Pnnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

Other Marcasite Information

References:

NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)

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Marcasite

FeS2
Dana No: 02.12.02.01 Strunz No: 02.EB.10a
Locality:

Notes: