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Pyrrhotite

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
This page kindly sponsored byMark Kucera
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Named in 1847 by Ours-Pierre-Armand Petit-Dufrénoy from Greek πνρρός "pyrrhos", flame-colored.
Pyrrhotite is found withpentlandite in basic igneous rocks, veins, and metamorphic rocks. It is also often found with pyrite, marcasite, and magnetite. It has varying magnetic powers, depending on the number of Fe vacancies in the crystal structure. A related species with no vacancies (and therefore non-magnetic), is calledtroilite and has been found in meteorites and rarely terrestrially.

Several polytypes are known; the most common one ispyrrhotite-4C.

Visually similar tosmythite andtroilite.

Compare'UM1989-25-S:FeNi' - a representative of the Fe1-xS-Ni1-xS (Mss) solid solution.


Unique Identifiers
IMA Formula:
Fe7S8

Classification of Pyrrhotite

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
C : With Ni, Fe, Co, PGE, etc.
Dana 8th ed.:
2.8.10.1

2 : SULFIDES
8 : AmXp, with m:p = 1:1
Hey's CIM Ref.:
3.9.1

3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
9 : Sulphides etc. of Fe

Mineral SymbolsJolyon RalphUnited Kingdom

Physical Properties of Pyrrhotite
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Bronze brown, bronze red, or dark brown
Comment:
Tarnishes quickly
Streak:
Dark grayish black
Hardness:
3½ - 4 onMohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=373 - 409 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Cleavage:
None Observed
Parting:
Distinct on {0001}
Fracture:
Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
4.58 - 4.65 g/cm3 (Measured)    4.69 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of Pyrrhotite
Common Impurities:
Ni,Co,Cu

Chemical Analysis
Click on an icon to view
Pyrrhotite no.15 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Pyrrhotite - Contact twin on {10-12}
Pyrrhotite - {100}, {001}
Pyrrhotite - {101}, {001}
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided bywww.smorf.nl.

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Edge Lines |Miller Indices |Axes

Transparency
Opaque |Translucent |Transparent

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Crystal Structure
Epitaxy Comments:
Usually, the pyrrhotite is on the galena, but codepositing intergrowths are known. The "six-fold" axis of pyrrhotite is parallel to the three-fold axis (octahedral axis) in galena.

X-Ray Powder Diffraction

Other Language Names for Pyrrhotite

Varieties of PyrrhotiteNickel-bearing PyrrhotiteA nickel-bearing variety of pyrrhotite.
Note, however, that there are several iron-nickel sulphides.

Relationship of Pyrrhotite to other Species
Other Members of Pyrrhotite Group:
Smythite(Fe,Ni)3+xS4 (x=0-0.3)Trig.3m(32/m) :R3m
TroiliteFeSHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) :P63/mmc

Common AssociatesTrig. 32 :P32212.CC.TilkerodeitePd2HgSe3Trig.3m(32/m) :P3m12.CC.UM2007-26-S:CuFeIrNiPtRh(Ir,Cu,Ni,Pt,Rh,Fe)9S112.CC.Proxitwelvefoldite Pd3Ni4Te8Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) :P42/mnm2.CC.FerrotorryweiseriteRh5Fe10S16Trig.3m(32/m) :R3m2.CC.TamuraiteIr5Fe10S16Trig.3m(32/m) :R3m2.CC.Crowningshieldite(Ni0.9Fe0.1)SHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) :P63/mmc2.CC.KuvaeviteIr5Ni10S16Trig.3m(32/m) :R3m2.CC.TorryweiseriteRh5Ni10S16Trig.3m(32/m) :R3m2.CC.05AchávaliteFeSeHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) :P63/mmc2.CC.05LangisiteCoAsHex. 6 :P632.CC.05SederholmiteNiSeHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) :P63/mmc2.CC.05FrebolditeCoSeHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) :P63/mmc2.CC.05NickelineNiAsHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) :P63/mcm2.CC.05SobolevskitePdBiHex.2.CC.05JaipuriteCoSHex.2.CC.05KotulskitePd(Te,Bi)2-x (x ≈ 0.4)Hex.2.CC.05ZlatogoriteNiCuSb2Trig.3m(32/m) :P31m2.CC.05StumpflitePtSbHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) :P63/mmc2.CC.05SudburyitePdSbHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) :P63/mmc2.CC.05BreithauptiteNiSbHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) :P63/mmc2.CC.10Smythite(Fe,Ni)3+xS4 (x=0-0.3)Trig.3m(32/m) :R3m2.CC.10TroiliteFeSHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) :P63/mmc2.CC.15Ruthenarsenite(Ru,Ni)AsOrth.mmm(2/m2/m2/m) :Pnma2.CC.15Westerveldite(Fe,Ni,Co)AsOrth.mmm(2/m2/m2/m)2.CC.15ModderiteCoAsOrth.mmm(2/m2/m2/m)2.CC.15MinakawaiteRhSbOrth.mmm(2/m2/m2/m) :Pnma2.CC.15CherepanoviteRhAsOrth.mmm(2/m2/m2/m) :Pnma2.CC.20UM1990-38-S:CuFeIrNiPtRh(Ni,Fe,Rh,Cu,Ir,Pt)S2.CC.20MilleriteNiSTrig. 3m :R3m2.CC.20MäkineniteNiSeTrig. 3m2.CC.25MackinawiteFeSTet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) :P4/nmm2.CC.30VavříniteNi2SbTe2Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) :P63/mmc2.CC.30Hexatestibiopanickelite(Pd,Ni)(Sb,Te) ?Hex.2.CC.35bCooperitePtSTet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) :P42/mmc2.CC.35aVysotskitePdSTet. 4/m :P42/m2.CC.35aBraggitePdPt3S4Tet. 4/m :P42/m2.CC.45JacutingaitePt2HgSe3Trig.3m(32/m) :P3m12.CC.50ImgreiteNiTe (?)Hex.

Fluorescence of Pyrrhotite

Other InformationCoarse-grained-ultramafic-rock

Internet Links for Pyrrhotite
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    • External Links:
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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF
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    • References for PyrrhotiteRamsden, A.R. (1975) Compositions of coexisting pyrrhotites, pentlandites and pyrites at Spargoville, Western Australia. The Canadian Mineralogist: 13: 133-137.
    Morimoto, N., Gyobu, Atsuo, Mukaiyama, Hiromu, Izawa, Eiji (1975) Crystallography and stability of pyrrhotites.Economic Geology, 70 (4) 824-833doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.70.4.824
    Nakazawa, Hiromoto; Morimoto, Nobuo; Watanabe, Eiichi (1975) Direct observation of metal vacancies by high-resolution electron microscopy. Part I: 4C type pyrrhotite (Fe7S8).American Mineralogist, 60 (5-6). 359-366
    Nakazawa, H., Morimoto, N., Watanabe, E. (1976) Direct Observation of Iron Vacancies in Polytypes of Pyrrhotite. InElectron Microscopy in Mineralogy. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p.304-309.doi:10.1007/978-3-642-66196-9_21
    Corlett, M. (1977) Iron oxides and pyrrhotites from Igdlukunguaq, Disko Island, Greenland. The Canadian Mineralogist: 15: 540-545.
    Fleet, M. E. (1978) The pyrrhotite-marcasite transformation.The Canadian Mineralogist, 16 (1) 31-35
    Engel, Ruth F., Peacor, Donald R., Kelly, William C. (1978) A new 5C pyrrhotite.American Mineralogist, 63 (11-12) 1274-1277
    Kuebler, L. (1981) Note on the hardness of hexagonal pyrrhotite and a method for measuring the abrasion depth in sulfides. The Canadian Mineralogist: 19: 355-359.
    Kissin, S. A., Scott, S. D. (1982) Phase relations involving pyrrhotite below 350°C.Economic Geology, 77 (7). 1739-1754doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.77.7.1739
    Durazzo, A., Taylor, L.A. (1982) Exsolution in the Mss-pentlandite system: Textural and genetic implications for Ni-sulfide ores.Mineralium Deposita, 17 (3). 313-332doi:10.1007/bf00204463
    King, H. E., Prewitt, C. T. (1982) High-pressure and high-temperature polymorphism of iron sulfide (FeS)Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry, 38 (7) 1877-1887doi:10.1107/s0567740882007523
    Mukherjee, Ananda Deb, Sen, Ranen (1982) Pyrrhotite Alteration-A Study on Norwegian and Indian Sulphide Ores.Journal of the Geological Society of India, 23 (4). 196-198
    Kelly, D. P., Vaughan, D. J. (1983) Pyrrhotine-pentlandite ore textures: a mechanistic approach.Mineralogical Magazine, 47 (345) 453-463doi:10.1180/minmag.1983.047.345.06
    Campbell, F.A., Ethier, V.G. (1984) Nickel and cobalt in pyrrhotite and pyrite from the Faro and Sullivan orebodies. The Canadian Mineralogist: 22: 503-506.
    Pasquariello, D. M., Kershaw, R., Passaretti, J. D., Dwight, K., Wold, A. (1984) Low-temperature synthesis and properties of cobalt sulfide (Co9S8), nickel sulfide (Ni3S2), and iron sulfide (Fe7S8).Inorganic Chemistry, 23 (7). 872-874doi:10.1021/ic00175a016
    Keller-Besrest, F., Collin, G. (1990) Structural aspects of the α transition in stoichiometric FeS: Identification of the high-temperature phase.Journal of Solid State Chemistry, 84. 194-210doi:10.1016/0022-4596(90)90319-s
    Keller-Besrest, F., Collin, G. (1990) II. Structural aspects of the α transition in off-stoichiometric Fe1−xS crystals.Journal of Solid State Chemistry, 84. 211-225doi:10.1016/0022-4596(90)90320-w
    Craig, James R., Vokes, Frank M. (1993) The metamorphism of pyrite and pyritic ores: an overview.Mineralogical Magazine, 57 (386) 3-18doi:10.1180/minmag.1993.057.386.02
    Barkov, A. Y., Laajoki, K. V. O., Men'shikov, Y. P., Alapieti, T. T., Sivonen, S. J. (1997) First terrestrial occurrence of titanium-rich pyrrhotite, marcasite and pyrite in a fenitized xenolith from the Khibina alkaline complex, Russia.The Canadian Mineralogist, 35 (4) 875-885
    Nesbitt, H.W., Schaufuss, A.G., Scaini, M., Bancroft, G.M., Szargan, R. (2001) XPS measurement of fivefold and sixfold coordinated sulfur in pyrrhotites and evidence for millerite and pyrrhotite surface species.American Mineralogist, 86 (3) 318-326doi:10.2138/am-2001-2-315
    Farrell, S.P., Fleet, M.E. (2002) Phase separation in (Fe,Co)1-xS monosulfide solid-solution below 450°C, with consequences for coexisting pyrrhotite and pentlandite in magmatic sulfide deposits. The Canadian Mineralogist: 40: 33-46.
    Etschmann, B. E., Pring, A., Putnis, A., McCammon, C., GrGuric, B., Studer, A. J. (2002) Kinetics of exsolution in the pentlandite-pyrrhotite ((Fe,Ni)9S8-Fe(1−x)S) system.Acta Crystallographica Section A Foundations of Crystallography, 58 (s1). c144doi:10.1107/s0108767302090785
    Froese, E. (2003) Point defects in pyrrhotite.The Canadian Mineralogist, 41 (4). 1061-1067doi:10.2113/gscanmin.41.4.1061
    Selivanov, E.N., Vershinin, A.D., Gulyaeva, R.I. (2003) Thermal expansion of troilite and pyrrhotine [sic] in helium and air. Inorganic Materials: 39: 1097-1102.
    Powell, Anthony V., Vaqueiro, Paz, Knight, Kevin S., Chapon, Laurent C., Sánchez, Rodolfo D. (2004) Structure and magnetism in synthetic pyrrhotite Fe7S8: A powder neutron-diffraction study.Physical Review B, 70 (1). 014415-1-014415-12doi:10.1103/physrevb.70.014415
    (2005) Pyrrhotite.Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America
    Wang, H., Salveson, I. (2005) A review on the mineral chemistry of the non-stoichiometric iron sulphide, Fe1-xS (0≤x≤0.125): polymorphs, phase relations and transitions, electronic and magnetic structures. Phase Transitions: 78: 547-567.
    Tenailleau, C.; Etschmann, B.; Wang, H.; Pring, A.; Grguric, B. A.; Studer, A. (2005) Thermal expansion of troilite and pyrrhotite determined byin situ cooling (873 to 373 K) neutron powder diffraction measurements.Mineralogical Magazine, 69 (2). 205-216doi:10.1180/0026461056920247
    Makovicky, E. (2006) Crystal Structures of Sulfides and Other Chalcogenides, inSulfide Mineralogy and Geochemistry.Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 61. Mineralogical Society of America. 7-125doi:10.2138/rmg.2006.61.2
    Wang, Haipeng; Pring, Allan; Wu, Fei; Chen, Guorong; Jiang, Jianhua; Xia, Fang; Zhang, Jian; Ngothai, Yung; O'neill, Brian (2006) Effect of cation vacancy and crystal superstructure on thermodynamics of iron monosulfides.Journal of Sulfur Chemistry, 27 (3). 271-282doi:10.1080/17415990600646124
    Tan, Zheng, Su, Xuping, Li, Zhi, Liu, Ya, Wang, Jianhua (2007) Phase equilibria in the Zn–Fe–S system at 450°C.International Journal of Materials Research, 98 (1) 16-20doi:10.3139/146.101435
    Selivanov, E. N., Gulyaeva, R. I., Vershinin, A. D. (2008) Thermal expansion and phase transformations of natural pyrrhotite.Inorganic Materials, 44 (4) 438-442doi:10.1134/s0020168508040201
    de Villiers, J. P.R., Liles, D. C., Becker, M. (2009) The crystal structure of a naturally occurring 5C pyrrhotite from Sudbury, its chemistry, and vacancy distribution.American Mineralogist, 94 (10) 1405-1410doi:10.2138/am.2009.3081but see Liles & de Villiers, 2012
    de Villiers, J. P.R., Liles, D. C. (2010) The crystal-structure and vacancy distribution in 6C pyrrhotite.American Mineralogist, 95 (1) 148-152doi:10.2138/am.2010.3266
    Elliot, Alexander Dean (2010) Structure of pyrrhotite 5C (Fe9S10).Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Science, 66 (3). 271-279doi:10.1107/s0108768110011845
    Becker, M., de Villiers, J., Bradshaw, D. (2010) The Mineralogy and Crystallography of Pyrrhotite from Selected Nickel and PGE Ore Deposits.Economic Geology, 105 (5) 1025-1037doi:10.2113/econgeo.105.5.1025
    Harries, D., Pollok, K., Langenhorst, F. (2011) Translation interface modulation in NC-pyrrhotites: Direct imaging by TEM and a model toward understanding partially disordered structural states.American Mineralogist, 96 (5) 716-731doi:10.2138/am.2011.3644
    Liles, D. C., de Villiers, J. P. R. (2012) Redetermination of the structure of 5C pyrrhotite at low temperature and at room temperature.American Mineralogist, 97 (2) 257-261doi:10.2138/am.2012.3887
    Li, Ssu Han, Chen, Yen-Hua, Lee, Jey-Jau, Sheu, Hwo-Shuenn (2018) Phase transition of iron sulphide minerals under hydrothermal conditions and magnetic investigations.Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 45 (1) 27-38doi:10.1007/s00269-017-0898-x
    Haines, Charles R. S., Howard, Christopher J., Harrison, Richard J., Carpenter, Michael A. (2019) Group-theoretical analysis of structural instability, vacancy ordering and magnetic transitions in the system troilite (FeS)–pyrrhotite (Fe1−xS).Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Science, Crystal Engineering and Materials, 75 (6). 1208-1224doi:10.1107/s2052520619014197
    Jin, Lei, Koulialias, Dimitrios, Schnedler, Michael, Gehring, Andreas U., Pósfai, Mihály, Ebert, Philipp, Charilaou, Michalis, Schäublin, Robin E., Jia, Chun-Lin, Löffler, Jörg F., Dunin-Borkowski, Rafal E. (2021) Atomic-Scale Characterization of Commensurate and Incommensurate Vacancy Superstructures in Natural Pyrrhotites.American Mineralogist, 106 (1). 82-96doi:10.2138/am-2020-7479ccby
    Urashima, Shu‐hei, Narahara, Keisuke, Yui, Hiroharu (2022) The Raman spectra of freshly cleaved pyrrhotites: The effect of atmospheric weathering and laser‐induced oxidation.Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 53 (12) 2129-2136doi:10.1002/jrs.6439
    Smith, Jennifer, Graziani, Riccardo, Petts, Duane C., Regis, Daniele (2023) Crystallographic controlled exsolution and metal partitioning in magmatic sulfide deposits.Geochemistry, 83 (2) 125954doi:10.1016/j.chemer.2023.125954
    Клюшников, А. М., Мальцев, Г. И. (2023)Термические и химические деформации структуры пирротинов [Thermal and chemical deformations of the pyrrhotite structure]. Инфра-Инженерия.
    Rezvani, Alireza, Raji, Foad, Liu, Qi, Peng, Yongjun (2024) Identification and quantification of pyrrhotite superstructures in base metal sulfide ore samples: A critical review.Minerals Engineering, 218. 108975doi:10.1016/j.mineng.2024.108975

    Significant localities for PyrrhotiteⓘRenison Bell MineKitto+4 other references
    Brazil
     
    Rocks & Min.: 63:43+2 other references
    Canada
     
    Grice et al. (1977)+1 other referenceTavchandjian (1992)
    Italy
     
    Benvenuti et al. (2000)
    Japan
     
    - (1911)+2 other references
    Kosovo
     
    Féraud J. (1979)+4 other references
    Mexico
     
    Panczner (1987)
    Norway
     
    Neumann (1944)Vogt (1900)+1 other reference
    Peru
     
    Imai et al. (1985)+1 other reference
    Romania
     
    Palache et al. (1944)+4 other references
    Russia
     
    Dobovol'skaya et al. (1990)+3 other references
    Switzerland
     
    Ansermet (2004)+3 other references
    USA
     
    Ague (1995)+1 other reference
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