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"Structure and Magnetic Properties" copied from Pyrrhotite and were not changed in this edit (only used to link citations)
Structure
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Pyrrhotite exists as a number of polytypes of hexagonal or monoclinic crystal symmetry; several polytypes often occur within the same specimen. Their structure is based on the NiAs unit cell. As such, Fe occupies an octahedral site and the sulfide centers occupy trigonal prismatic sites.[1][page needed]
Materials with the NiAs structure often are non-stoichiometric because they lack up to 1/8th fraction of the metal ions, creating vacancies. One of such structures is pyrrhotite-4C (Fe7S8). Here "4" indicates that iron vacancies define a superlattice that is 4 times larger than the unit cell in the "C" direction. The C direction is conventionally chosen parallel to the main symmetry axis of the crystal; this direction usually corresponds to the largest lattice spacing. Other polytypes include: pyrrhotite-5C (Fe9S10), 6C (Fe11S12), 7C (Fe9S10) and 11C (Fe10S11). Every polytype can have monoclinic (M) or hexagonal (H) symmetry, and therefore some sources label them, for example, not as 6C, but 6H or 6M depending on the symmetry.[2][3] The monoclinic forms are stable at temperatures below 254 °C, whereas the hexagonal forms are stable above that temperature. The exception is for those with high iron content, close to the troilite composition (47 to 50% atomic percent iron) which exhibit hexagonal symmetry.[4]
Magnetic properties
editThe ideal FeS lattice, such as that of troilite, is non-magnetic. Magnetic properties vary with Fe content. More Fe-rich, hexagonal pyrrhotites are antiferromagnetic. However, the Fe-deficient, monoclinic Fe7S8 is ferrimagnetic.[5] The ferromagnetism which is widely observed in pyrrhotite is therefore attributed to the presence of relatively large concentrations of iron vacancies (up to 20%) in the crystal structure. Vacancies lower the crystal symmetry. Therefore, monoclinic forms of pyrrhotite are in general more defect-rich than the more symmetrical hexagonal forms, and thus are more magnetic.[6] Monoclinic pyrrhotite undergoes a magnetic transition known as the Besnus transition at 30 K that leads to a loss of magnetic remanence.[7] The saturation magnetization of pyrrhotite is 0.12 tesla.[8]
Identification
editPhysical Properties
editPyrrhotite is brassy, bronze, or dark brown in color with a metallic luster and uneven or subconchoidal fracture.[9] Pyrrhotite may be confused with other brassy sulfide minerals like pyrite, chalcopyrite, or pentlandite. Certain diagnostic characteristics can be used for identification in hand samples. Unlike other common brassy-colored sulfide minerals, pyrrhotite is typically magnetic (varies inversely with iron content).[9] On the Mohs hardness scale, pyrrhotite ranges from 3.5 to 4,[2] compared to 6 to 6.5 for pyrite.[10] Streak can be used when properties between pyrrhotite and other sulfide minerals are similar. Pyrrhotite displays a dark grey to black streak.[2] Pyrite will display a greenish black to brownish black streak,[10] chalcopyrite will display a greenish black streak,[11] and pentlandite leaves a pale bronze-brown streak.[12] Pyrrhotite generally displays massive to granular crystal habit, and may show tabular/prismatic or hexagonal crystals which are sometimes iridescent.[9]
Diagnostic characteristics in hand samples include: brassy/bronze colour when paired with a grey/black streak, tabular or hexagonal crystals which show iridescence, subconchoidal fracture, metallic luster, and magnestism.
Optical Properties
editPyrrhotite is an opaque mineral and will therefore not transmit light. As a result, pyrrhotite will display extinction when viewed under plane polarized light and cross polarized light, making identification with petrographic polarizing light microscopes difficult. Pyrrhotite, and other opaque minerals can be identified optically using a reflected light ore microscope (which contains an upper reflecting polarizing light illuminator). As such, the following optical properties[13] are representative of polished/puck sections under using ore microscopy:
Pyrrhotite typically appears as anhedral, granular aggregates and is cream-pink to brownish in color.[13] Weak to strong reflection pleochroism which may be seen along grain boundaries.[13] Pyrrhotite has similar polishing hardness to pentlandite (medium), is softer than pyrite, and harder than chalcopyrite.[13] Pyrrhotite will not display twinning or internal reflections, and its strong anisotropy from yellow to greenish-gray or grayish-blue is characteristic.[13]
Diagnostic characteristics in polished section include: anhedral aggregates, cream-pink to brown in color which display strong anisotropy.
References
edit- ^ Shriver, D. F.; Atkins, P. W.; Overton, T. L.; Rourke, J. P.; Weller, M. T.; Armstrong, F. A. "Inorganic Chemistry" W. H. Freeman, New York, 2006. ISBN 0-7167-4878-9.[page needed]
- ^ a b c "Pyrrhotite". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
- ^ Barnes, Hubert Lloyd (1997). Geochemistry of hydrothermal ore deposits. John Wiley and Sons. pp. 382–390. ISBN 0-471-57144-X.
- ^ Klein, Cornelis and Cornelius S. Hurlbut, Jr., Manual of Mineralogy, Wiley, 20th ed, 1985, pp. 278-9 ISBN 0-471-80580-7
- ^ Sagnotti, L., 2007, Iron Sulfides; in: Encyclopedia of Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism; (Editors David Gubbins and Emilio Herrero-Bervera), Springer, 1054 pp., p. 454-459.
- ^ Atak, Suna; Önal, Güven; Çelik, Mehmet Sabri (1998). Innovations in Mineral and Coal Processing. Taylor & Francis. p. 131. ISBN 90-5809-013-2.
- ^ Volk, Michael W.R.; Gilder, Stuart A.; Feinberg, Joshua M. (1 December 2016). "Low-temperature magnetic properties of monoclinic pyrrhotite with particular relevance to the Besnus transition". Geophysical Journal International. 207 (3): 1783–1795. doi:10.1093/gji/ggw376.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ^ Svoboda, Jan (2004). Magnetic techniques for the treatment of materials. Springer. p. 33. ISBN 1-4020-2038-4.
- ^ a b c "Pyrrhotite: Physical properties, uses, composition". geology.com. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
- ^ a b "Pyrite" (PDF). rruff.info. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
- ^ "Chalcopyrite" (PDF). handbookofmineralogy. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
- ^ "Pentlandite" (PDF). handbookofmineralogy. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
- ^ a b c d e Spry, P. G., & Gedlinske, B. (1987). Tables for the determination of common opaque minerals. Economic Geology Pub.