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Marcasite

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Abbots Cliff, Folkestone, Kent, England, UK
© Steve Rust

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Formula:
FeS
 
2
System:OrthorhombicColour:Pale brass-yellow, ...
Lustre:MetallicHardness:6 - 6½
Name:Named in 1845 after an Arabic or Moorish name applied to pyrite and similar metallic bronze colored minerals.


Marcasite Group.

Crystals common, metallic pale brass-yellow colored, tabular or pyramidal, often with curved faces; it may also be stalactic, globular, or reniform with a radiating internal structure. Frequently found replacing organic matter, forming fossils, in sedimentary beds, particularly coal beds.

Classification of Marcasite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/D.20-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.EB.10

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
E : Metal Sulfides, M: S <= 1:2
B : M:S = 1:2, with Fe, Co, Ni, PGE, etc.
Dana 7th edition ID:2.12.2.1
Dana 8th edition ID:2.12.2.1

2 : SULFIDES
12 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:2
Hey's CIM Ref.:3.9.4

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
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Occurrences of Marcasite

Geological Setting:Most frequently found in sedimentary rocks and coal beds, as a replacement mineral forming fossils, it is a mineral of low-temperature, near-surface, environments, forming from acid solutions. Pyrite, the more stable form of FeS^2, forms under conditions of higher temperatures and lower acidity or alkaline environments.

Physical Properties of Marcasite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Pale brass-yellow, tin-white on fresh exposures.
Streak:Dark-grey to black.
Hardness (Mohs):6 - 6½
Hardness (Vickers):VHN200=915 - 1099 kg/mm2
Hardness Data:Measured
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
Distinct on {101}. {110} in traces.
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven
Density (measured):4.887 g/cm3
Density (calculated):4.875 g/cm3

Crystallography of Marcasite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:Pnnm (P21/n 21/n 2/m)
Cell Parameters:a = 4.436Å, b = 5.414Å, c = 3.381Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.819 : 1 : 0.624
Unit Cell Volume:V 81.20 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Crystals usually tabular on {010}, also pyramidal, faces often curved; also stalactic, globular, or reniform with radiating internal structure.
Twinning:Common on {101}, forming "swallowtail" contact twins; this may be repeated to form stellate fivlings. Less common on {011}
Crystal Atlas:
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Marcasite no.80 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Marcasite no.90 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Marcasite no.141 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Marcasite no.148 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

About Crystal Atlas

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X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
3.43(70)
2.71(30)
2.69(100)
2.41(40)
2.31(30)
1.91(30)
1.75(50)

Optical Data of Marcasite

Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Strong yellow to light green to dark green
Pleochroism:Strong
Comments:Creamy white, light yellowish white, white with rose brown tint.

Chemical Properties of Marcasite

Formula:
FeS
 
2
Essential elements:Fe, S
All elements listed in formula:Fe, S
Common Impurities:Cu,As

Relationship of Marcasite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
2.EB.05Aurostibite
AuSb
 
2
2.EB.05Bambollaite
Cu(Se,Te)
 
2
2.EB.05Cattierite
CoS
 
2
2.EB.05Erlichmanite
OsS
 
2
2.EB.05Fukuchilite
Cu
 
3
FeS
 
8
2.EB.05Geversite
PtSb
 
2
2.EB.05Hauerite
MnS
 
2
2.EB.05Insizwaite
Pt(Bi,Sb)
 
2
2.EB.05Krut'aite
CuSe
 
2
2.EB.05Laurite
RuS
 
2
2.EB.05Penroseite
(Ni,Co,Cu)Se
 
2
2.EB.05Pyrite
FeS
 
2
2.EB.05Sperrylite
PtAs
 
2
2.EB.05Trogtalite
CoSe
 
2
2.EB.05Vaesite
NiS
 
2
2.EB.05Villamanínite
(Cu,Ni,Co,Fe)S
 
2
2.EB.05Dzharkenite
FeSe
 
2
2.EB.05Gaotaiite
Ir
 
3
Te
 
8
2.EB.10Ferroselite
FeSe
 
2
2.EB.10Frohbergite
FeTe
 
2
2.EB.10Hastite
CoSe
 
2
2.EB.10Kullerudite
NiSe
 
2
2.EB.10Mattagamite
CoTe
 
2
2.EB.15Alloclasite
(Co
 
0.65
Fe
 
0.35
)AsS - CoAsS
2.EB.15Anduoite
(Ru,Os)As
 
2
2.EB.15Clinosafflorite
(Co,Fe,Ni)As
 
2
2.EB.15Costibite
CoSbS
2.EB.15Krutovite
NiAs
 
2
2.EB.15Löllingite
FeAs
 
2
2.EB.15Nisbite
NiSb
 
2
2.EB.15Omeiite
(Os,Ru)As
 
2
2.EB.15Paracostibite
CoSbS
2.EB.15Pararammelsbergite
NiAs
 
2
2.EB.15Rammelsbergite
NiAs
 
2
2.EB.15Safflorite
(Co,Fe)As
 
2
2.EB.15Seinäjokite
(Fe,Ni)(Sb,As)
 
2
2.EB.15Oenite
CoSbAs
2.EB.20Arsenopyrite
FeAsS - (Fe
 
0.90
Co
 
0.10
)AsS
2.EB.20Glaucodot
(Fe
 
0.65
Co
 
0.35
)AsS - (Co
 
0.65
Fe
 
0.35
)AsS
2.EB.20Gudmundite
FeSbS
2.EB.20Osarsite
(Os,Ru)AsS
2.EB.20Paxite
CuAs
 
2
2.EB.20Ruarsite
(Ru,Os)AsS
2.EB.25Cobaltite
CoAsS
2.EB.25Gersdorffite
NiAsS
2.EB.25Hollingworthite
(Rh,Pt,Pd)AsS
2.EB.25Irarsite
(Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS
2.EB.25Jolliffeite
NiAsSe
2.EB.25Maslovite
PtBiTe
2.EB.25Michenerite
PdBiTe
2.EB.25Padmaite
PdBiSe
2.EB.25Platarsite
(Pt,Rh,Ru)AsS
2.EB.25Testibiopalladite
PdTe(Sb,Te)
2.EB.25Tolovkite
IrSbS
2.EB.25Ullmannite
NiSbS
2.EB.25Willyamite
(Co,Ni)SbS
2.EB.25Changchengite
IrBiS
2.EB.25Mayingite
IrBiTe
2.EB.25Hollingsworthite
2.EB.25Kalungaite
PdAsSe
2.EB.25Milotaite
PdSbSe
2.EB.30Urvantsevite
Pd(Bi,Pb)
 
2
2.EB.35Rheniite
ReS
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
3.9.1Pyrrhotite
Fe
 
0.83-1
S
3.9.3Pyrite
FeS
 
2
3.9.5Greigite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
S
 
4
3.9.6Mackinawite
(Fe,Ni)
 
9
S
 
8
3.9.7Smythite
(Fe,Ni)
 
9
S
 
11
3.9.8Achavalite
FeSe
3.9.9Ferroselite
FeSe
 
2
3.9.10Frohbergite
FeTe
 
2
3.9.11Löllingite
FeAs
 
2
3.9.12Arsenopyrite
FeAsS - (Fe
 
0.90
Co
 
0.10
)AsS
3.9.13Gudmundite
FeSbS

Other Names for Marcasite

Synonyms:
AlasaniteAlazaniteBinariteHydropyriteKammkies
Lebererz (of Agricola)MaxyPoliopyritesPrismatic Iron PyritesRadiated Pyrites
Spear PyritesSperchiseWeicheisenkiesWeisserkies
German names:
AlasanitAlazanitBinaritBinärkiesHydropyrit
MarcasitMarkasitSpeerkies
Japanese names:
白鉄鉱
Polish names:
Markasyt
Russian names:
Марказит
Spanish names:
AlasanitaAlazanitaBinaritaHydropyritaMarcasita
Varieties:
Cellular PyritesLonchidite

Other Information

Health Warning:Marcasite is unstable to metastable and decrepitates, altering to melanterite, which contains sulfuric acid. Always wash hands after handling. Avoid inhaling dust when handling or breaking. Never lick or ingest.

References for Marcasite

Reference List:Buerger (1937) American Mineralogist: 22: 48.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 311-315.

Acta Chemica Scandinavica (1973): 27: 2791-2796.

Fleet, M.E. (1975b) Structural chemistry of marcasite and pyrite type phases. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 142: 332-346.

Schoonen, M.A.A. and Barnes, H.L. (1991b) Reaction forming pyrite and marcasite from solution II. Via FeS precursors below 100° C. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta: 55: 1505-1514.

Fleet, M.E. and Mumin, A.H. (1997) Gold-bearing arsenian pyrite and marcasite and arsenopyrite from Carlin-trend gold deposits and laboratory synthesis. American Mineralogist: 82: 182-193.

Gaines, Richard V., H. Catherine, W. Skinner, Eugene E. Foord, Brian Mason, Abraham Rosenzweig (1997), Dana's New Mineralogy : The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana: 120.

Uhlig, I., Szargan, R., Nesbitt, H.W., and Laajalehto, K. (2001) Surface states and reactivity of pyrite and marcasite. Appl. Surf. Sci.: 179: 223-230.

Internet Links for Marcasite

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