General Information:
Chemical Formula:
FeS2
Composition:
(Molecular Weight = 119.98 gm)
Iron 46.55 % Fe
Sulfur 53.45 % S
Empirical Formula:
Fe2+S2
Environment:
Sedimentary, magmatic, metamorphic, and hydrothermal.
Locality:
Common world wide.
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.
Physical Properties:
Cleavage:
[100] Poor, [110] Poor
Color:
pale brass yellow.
Density:
5 - 5.02, Average = 5.01
Diaphaniety:
Opaque
Habits:
Striated - Parallel lines on crystal surface or cleavage face., Druse - Crystal growth in a cavity which results in numerous crystal tipped surfaces., Stalactitic - Shaped like pendan t columns as stalactites or stalagmites
Hardness:
6.5 - Pyrite
Luminescence:
None.
Luster:
Metallic
Streak:
greenish black
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