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Pyrrhotite

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered

This page kindly sponsored by Mark Kucera

Photos of Pyrrhotite (1095)

Pyrrhotite Gallery Search Photos of Pyrrhotite

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Pyrrhotite, etc.

Dalnegorsk, Dalnegorsk Urban District, Primorsky Krai, Russia

Pyrrhotite, etc.

Rhomberg quarry, Unterklien, Hohenems, Dornbirn District, Vorarlberg, Austria

Pyrrhotite, etc.

St Gotthard basis tunnel, NEAT Construction site, Amsteg, Reuss Valley, Uri, Switzerland

Pyrrhotite, etc.

Dalnegorsk, Dalnegorsk Urban District, Primorsky Krai, Russia

Pyrrhotite, etc.

Rhomberg quarry, Unterklien, Hohenems, Dornbirn District, Vorarlberg, Austria

Pyrrhotite, etc.

St Gotthard basis tunnel, NEAT Construction site, Amsteg, Reuss Valley, Uri, Switzerland

Pyrrhotite, etc.

Dalnegorsk, Dalnegorsk Urban District, Primorsky Krai, Russia

Pyrrhotite, etc.

Rhomberg quarry, Unterklien, Hohenems, Dornbirn District, Vorarlberg, Austria

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About PyrrhotiteHide

Formula:

Fe_1-xS

Also given as Fe_1-x (x = 0 to 0.17). The various polytypes known have slightly different stoichiometries.

Colour:

Bronze brown, bronze red, or dark brown

Lustre:

Metallic

Hardness:

3½ - 4

Specific Gravity:

4.58 - 4.65

Crystal System:

Monoclinic

Member of:

Pyrrhotite Group

Name:

Named in 1847 by Ours-Pierre-Armand Petit-Dufrénoy from Greek πνρρός "pyrrhos", flame-colored.

Pyrrhotite is found with pentlandite 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 called troilite and has been found in meteorites and rarely terrestrially.

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

Visually similar to smythite and troilite.

Compare 'UM1989-25-S:FeNi' - a representative of the Fe_1-xS-Ni_1-xS (Mss) solid solution.

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

3328

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:3328:8

GUID
(UUID V4):

2b5c1e78-dfac-47e8-b3f8-ed5489951809

IMA Classification of PyrrhotiteHide

IMA status:

Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)

IMA Formula:

Fe₇S₈

Classification of PyrrhotiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2024):

2.CC.10

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 : A_mX_p, 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 SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.

Symbol	Source	Reference
Pyh	IMA–CNMNC	Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43
Po	Kretz (1983)	Kretz, R. (1983) Symbols of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 68, 277–279.
Po	Siivolam & Schmid (2007)	Siivolam, J. and Schmid, R. (2007) Recommendations by the IUGS Subcommission on the Systematics of Metamorphic Rocks: List of mineral abbreviations. Web-version 01.02.07. IUGS Commission on the Systematics in Petrology. download
Po	Whitney & Evans (2010)	Whitney, D.L. and Evans, B.W. (2010) Abbreviations for names of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 95, 185–187 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3371
Po	The Canadian Mineralogist (2019)	The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download
Pyh	Warr (2020)	Warr, L.N. (2020) Recommended abbreviations for the names of clay minerals and associated phases. Clay Minerals, 55, 261–264 doi:10.1180/clm.2020.30

Pronunciation of PyrrhotiteHide

Pronunciation:

Play	Recorded by	Country
	Jolyon Ralph	United Kingdom

Physical Properties of PyrrhotiteHide

Lustre:

Metallic

Transparency:

Opaque

Colour:

Bronze brown, bronze red, or dark brown

Comment:

Tarnishes quickly

Streak:

Dark grayish black

Hardness:

3½ - 4 on Mohs 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 PyrrhotiteHide

Anisotropism:

Strong

Reflectivity:

Wavelength	R₁	R₂
400nm	27.9%	31.0%
420nm	28.6%	32.2%
440nm	29.4%	33.6%
460nm	30.3%	34.8%
480nm	31.4%	36.2%
500nm	32.4%	37.6%
520nm	33.4%	38.6%
540nm	34.5%	39.6%
560nm	35.5%	40.4%
580nm	36.5%	41.2%
600nm	37.4%	42.0%
620nm	38.3%	42.6%
640nm	39.1%	43.0%
660nm	39.9%	43.5%
680nm	40.7%	43.9%
700nm	41.4%	44.1%

Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 44.1%.
R₁ shown in black, R₂ shown in red

Pleochroism:

Weak

Chemistry of PyrrhotiteHide

Mindat Formula:

Fe_1-xS

Also given as Fe_1-x (x = 0 to 0.17). The various polytypes known have slightly different stoichiometries.

Elements listed:

Fe, S - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Common Impurities:

Ni,Co,Cu

Crystallography of PyrrhotiteHide

Polytype:

Formula:

Crystal System:

Class (H-M)

Space Group:

Space Group Setting:

Cell Parameters:

Ratio:

Unit Cell Volume (calc):

Pyrrhotite-11C	Pyrrhotite-4C	Pyrrhotite-5C	Pyrrhotite-6C	Pyrrhotite-7H
Fe₁₀S₁₁	Fe₇S₈	Fe₉S₁₀	Fe₁₁S₁₂	Fe₉S₁₀
Orthorhombic	Monoclinic	Monoclinic	Monoclinic	Hexagonal
	2/m - Prismatic	2 - Sphenoidal	m - Domatic
	B2/b	P2₁	Bb
	C2/c	P2₁	Cc
a = 3.433(9) Å, b = 5.99(2) Å, c = 5.7432(5) Å β = 90°	a = 11.88 Å, b = 6.87 Å, c = 22.79 Å β = 90.47°	a = 6.8673(4) Å, b = 28.6536(9) Å, c = 6.8592(4) Å β = 119.975(7)°	a = 6.8973(15) Å, b = 11.954(3) Å, c = 17.602(4) Å α = 90°, β = 101.302(4)°, γ = 90°
a:b:c = 0.573 : 1 : 0.959	a:b:c = 1.729 : 1 : 3.317	a:b:c = 0.24 : 1 : 0.239	a:b:c = 0.577 : 1 : 1.472
V 118.10 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)	V 1,859.96 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)	V 1169.18 Å³	V 1423.1 Å³
		4	4

Crystallographic forms of PyrrhotiteHide

Crystal Atlas:

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Pyrrhotite no.15 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

Pyrrhotite - {101}, {001}

Pyrrhotite - {100}, {001}

Pyrrhotite - Contact twin on {10-12}

Crystal StructureHide

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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure

ID	Species	Reference	Year	Locality	Temp (K)
0000288	Pyrrhotite	Tokonami M, Nishiguchi K, Morimoto N (1972) Crystal structure of a monoclinic pyrrhotite (Fe7S8) American Mineralogist 57 1066-1080	1972		293
0020728	Pyrrhotite	Liles D C, de Villiers J P R (2012) Redetermination of structure of 5C pyrrhotite at low temperature and at room temperature American Mineralogist 97 257-261	2012	Silberberg mine, Bodenmais, Germany	120
0020729	Pyrrhotite	Liles D C, de Villiers J P R (2012) Redetermination of structure of 5C pyrrhotite at low temperature and at room temperature American Mineralogist 97 257-261	2012	Silberberg mine, Bodenmais, Germany	293
0020730	Pyrrhotite	Liles D C, de Villiers J P R (2012) Redetermination of structure of 5C pyrrhotite at low temperature and at room temperature American Mineralogist 97 257-261	2012	Copper Cliff mine, Sudbury, Canada	293
0004985	Pyrrhotite	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 1405-1410	2009	Copper Cliff North Mine, Sudbury, Canada	293
0005000	Pyrrhotite	De Villiers J P R, Liles D C (2010) The crystal-structure and vacancy distribution in 6C pyrrhotite American Mineralogist 95 148-152	2010	Mponeng Mine, South Africa	293
0005001	Pyrrhotite	De Villiers J P R, Liles D C (2010) The crystal-structure and vacancy distribution in 6C pyrrhotite American Mineralogist 95 148-152	2010	Mponeng Mine, South Africa	293
0018053	Pyrrhotite	Alsen N (1925) Roentgenographische Untersuchungen der Kristallstrukturen von Magnetkies, Breithauptit, Pentlandit, Millerit und verwandten Verbindungen _cod_database_code 1011178 Geologiska Foreningens i Stockholm Forhandlingar 47 19-73	1925		293
0018054	Pyrrhotite	Alsen N (1925) Roentgenographische Untersuchungen der Kristallstrukturen von Magnetkies, Breithauptit, Pentlandit, Millerit und verwandten Verbindungen _cod_database_code 1011179 Geologiska Foreningens i Stockholm Forhandlingar 47 19-73	1925		293
0020604	Pyrrhotite	Powell A V, Vaqueiro P, Knight K S, Chapon L C, Sanchez R D (2004) Structure and magnetism in synthetic pyrrhotite Fe7S8: A powder neutron-diffraction study Physical Review B70 014415-12	2004	Synthetic	11
0020605	Pyrrhotite	Powell A V, Vaqueiro P, Knight K S, Chapon L C, Sanchez R D (2004) Structure and magnetism in synthetic pyrrhotite Fe7S8: A powder neutron-diffraction study Physical Review B70 014415-12	2004	Synthetic	298

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Pyrrhotite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Tokonami M'
'Nishiguchi K'
'Morimoto N'
_journal_name_full 'American Mineralogist'
_journal_volume 57 
_journal_year 1972
_journal_page_first 1066
_journal_page_last 1080
_publ_section_title
;
 Crystal structure of a monoclinic pyrrhotite (Fe7S8)
;
_database_code_amcsd 0000288
_chemical_formula_sum 'Fe7 S8'
_cell_length_a 11.902
_cell_length_b 6.859
_cell_length_c 22.787
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 90.43
_cell_angle_gamma 90
_cell_volume 1860.183
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      4.624
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'F 1 2/d 1'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  'x,1/2+y,1/2+z'
  '1/2+x,y,1/2+z'
  '1/2+x,1/2+y,z'
  '1/4+x,-y,1/4+z'
  '1/4+x,1/2-y,3/4+z'
  '3/4+x,-y,3/4+z'
  '3/4+x,1/2-y,1/4+z'
  '3/4-x,y,3/4-z'
  '3/4-x,1/2+y,1/4-z'
  '1/4-x,y,1/4-z'
  '1/4-x,1/2+y,3/4-z'
  '1/2-x,-y,1/2-z'
  '1/2-x,1/2-y,-z'
  '-x,-y,-z'
  '-x,1/2-y,1/2-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
Fe1   0.38090   0.35000  -0.00630   0.01191
Fe2   0.38160   0.36600   0.12340   0.01127
Fe3   0.35870   0.39750   0.25010   0.00950
Fe4   0.37500   0.35280   0.37500   0.01786
S1   0.20610   0.36600  -0.06180   0.00988
S2   0.54180   0.38330   0.05980   0.00773
S3   0.20960   0.38580   0.18050   0.00633
S4   0.54280   0.36450   0.30870   0.00823

Epitaxial Relationships of PyrrhotiteHide

Epitaxial Minerals:

Galena

PbS

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 DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
5.94 Å	(10)
5.72 Å	(20)
5.27 Å	(7)
3.44 Å	(7)
2.98 Å	(40)
2.87 Å	(10)
2.64 Å	(50)
2.255 Å	(10)
2.207 Å	(7)
2.064 Å	(100)
1.987 Å	(7)
1.909 Å	(7)
1.769 Å	(7)
1.720 Å	(40)
1.636 Å	(10)
1.606 Å	(7)
1.490 Å	(10)
1.476 Å	(7)
1.442 Å	(10)
1.433 Å	(20)
1.321 Å	(20)
1.291 Å	(10)
1.174 Å	(10)
1.167 Å	(7)
1.125 Å	(7)
1.105 Å	(15)
1.101 Å	(10)
1.065 Å	(7)
1.048 Å	(10)
0.993 Å	(7)
0.979 Å	(7)

Comments:

ICDD 22-1120 (4C polytype). See also ICDD 29-723 (4C polytype), and 24-79/24-79a (4C polytype). Data for other polytypes include: ICDD 25-411 (1C polytype); ICDD 24-220 (3C polytype); ICDD 29-724 (5C polytype); ICDD 29-725 (6C polytype); ICDD 20-534 (7C polytype); and ICDD 29-726 (11C polytype).

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
Stage 2: Planetesimal differentiation and alteration	4.566-4.550
6 : Secondary asteroid phases	4.566-4.560
Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere	>4.45
12 : Hadean hydrothermal subsurface sulfide deposits (see also #33)
14 : Hot springs, geysers, and other subaerial geothermal minerals
15 : Black/white smoker minerals and other seafloor hydrothermal minerals
Near-surface Processes
26 : Hadean detrital minerals
High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism
31 : Thermally altered carbonate, phosphate, and iron formations
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12])
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks	>3.0
36 : Carbonatites, kimberlites, and related igneous rocks
37 : Layered igneous intrusions and related PGE minerals
Stage 5: Initiation of plate tectonics	<3.5-2.5
38 : Ophiolites
40 : Regional metamorphism (greenschist, amphibolite, granulite facies)
Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere	<0.6
49 : Oxic cellular biomineralization (see also #44)	<0.54
50 : Coal and/or oil shale minerals	<0.36
Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals	<10 Ka
54 : Coal and other mine fire minerals (see also #51 and #56)

Synonyms of PyrrhotiteHide

Dipyrite (of Readwin)

Kroeberite

Magnetic Iron Pyrites

Iron sulfide (in part)

Leberkies (in part)

Other Language Names for PyrrhotiteHide

Basque:Pirrotita

Catalan:Pirrotina

Czech:Pyrhotin

Dutch:Pyrrhotiet

Finnish:Magneettikiisu

French:Pyrrhotite

German:Pyrrhotin
Magnetkies
Magnetopyrit
Pyrrhotit
Pyrrohotit

Hebrew:פירוטיט

Italian:Pirrotite

Japanese:磁硫鉄鉱

Lithuanian:Pirotinas

Norwegian:Magnetkis

Polish:Pirotyn

Portuguese:Pirrotite

Russian:Пирротин

Simplified Chinese:磁黄铁矿

Slovak:Pyrotit

Spanish:Pirrotita
Magnetopirita
Pirita Magnética

Swedish:Magnetkis

Traditional Chinese:磁黃鐵礦

Ukrainian:Піротин

Varieties of PyrrhotiteHide

Cobalt-bearing Pyrrhotite	A cobalt-bearing variety of pyrrhotite.
Nickel-bearing Pyrrhotite	A nickel-bearing variety of pyrrhotite. Note, however, that there are several iron-nickel sulphides.

Relationship of Pyrrhotite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:

Pyrrhotite Group

Other Members of this group:

Smythite	(Fe,Ni)_3+xS₄ (x=0-0.3)	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
Troilite	FeS	Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6₃/mmc

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:

888 photos of Pyrrhotite associated with Quartz	SiO₂
604 photos of Pyrrhotite associated with Pyrite	FeS₂
601 photos of Pyrrhotite associated with Calcite	CaCO₃
549 photos of Pyrrhotite associated with Chalcopyrite	CuFeS₂
533 photos of Pyrrhotite associated with Sphalerite	ZnS
458 photos of Pyrrhotite associated with Galena	PbS
369 photos of Pyrrhotite associated with Siderite	FeCO₃
230 photos of Pyrrhotite associated with Dolomite	CaMg(CO₃)₂
188 photos of Pyrrhotite associated with Arsenopyrite	FeAsS
176 photos of Pyrrhotite associated with Pentlandite	(Ni_xFe_y)_Σ9S₈

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

2.CC.	Tilkerodeite	Pd₂HgSe₃	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1
2.CC.	UM2007-26-S:CuFeIrNiPtRh	(Ir,Cu,Ni,Pt,Rh,Fe)₉S₁₁
2.CC.	Crowningshieldite	(Ni_0.9Fe_0.10)S	Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6₃/mmc
2.CC.	Eliopoulosite	V₇S₈	Trig. 3 2 : P3₂ 2 1
2.CC.	Kuvaevite	Ir₅Ni₁₀S₁₆	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
2.CC.	Torryweiserite	Rh₅Ni₁₀S₁₆	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
2.CC.	Tamuraite	Ir₅Fe₁₀S₁₆	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
2.CC.	Ferrotorryweiserite	Rh₅Fe₁₀S₁₆	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
2.CC.05	Achávalite	FeSe	Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6₃/mmc
2.CC.05	Breithauptite	NiSb	Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6₃/mmc
2.CC.05	Freboldite	CoSe	Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6₃/mmc
2.CC.05	Kotulskite	Pd(Te,Bi)_2-x (x ≈ 0.4)	Hex.
2.CC.05	Langisite	CoAs	Hex. 6 : P6₃
2.CC.05	Nickeline	NiAs	Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6₃/mcm
2.CC.05	Sederholmite	beta-NiSe	Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6₃/mmc
2.CC.05	Sobolevskite	PdBi	Hex.
2.CC.05	Stumpflite	PtSb	Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6₃/mmc
2.CC.05	Sudburyite	PdSb	Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6₃/mmc
2.CC.05	Jaipurite	CoS	Hex.
2.CC.05	Zlatogorite	NiCuSb₂	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3 1m
2.CC.10	Smythite	(Fe,Ni)_3+xS₄ (x=0-0.3)	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
2.CC.10	Troilite	FeS	Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6₃/mmc
2.CC.15	Cherepanovite	RhAs	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
2.CC.15	Modderite	(Co,Fe)As	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.CC.15	Ruthenarsenite	(Ru,Ni)As	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
2.CC.15	Westerveldite	(Fe,Ni,Co)As	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.CC.15	Minakawaite	RhSb	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
2.CC.20	Millerite	NiS	Trig. 3m : R3m
2.CC.20	Mäkinenite	γ-NiSe	Trig. 3m
2.CC.20	UM1990-38-S:CuFeIrNiPtRh	(Ni,Fe,Rh,Cu,Ir,Pt)S
2.CC.25	Mackinawite	FeS	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/nmm
2.CC.30	Hexatestibiopanickelite	(Pd,Ni)(Sb,Te) ?	Hex.
2.CC.30	Vavřínite	Ni₂SbTe₂	Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6₃/mmc
2.CC.35a	Braggite	PdPt₃S₄	Tet. 4/m : P4₂/m
2.CC.35b	Cooperite	PtS	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4₂/mmc
2.CC.35a	Vysotskite	PdS	Tet. 4/m : P4₂/m
2.CC.45	Jacutingaite	Pt₂HgSe₃	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1
2.CC.50	Imgreite	NiTe (?)	Hex.

Fluorescence of PyrrhotiteHide

In UV light:

Not fluorescent in UV

Other InformationHide

Magnetism:

Ferromagnetic

Notes:

Variably magnetic

Health Risks:

No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Pyrrhotite in petrologyHide

An essential component of rock names highlighted in red, an accessory component in rock names highlighted in green.

Internet Links for PyrrhotiteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-3328.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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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 PyrrhotiteHide

Reference List:

Ehrenberg, H. (1932): Orientierte Verwachsungen von Magnetkies und Pentlandit. Z. Kristallogr. 82, 309-315.

Palache, Charles, Berman, Harry, Frondel, Clifford (1944) The System of Mineralogy (7th ed.) Vol. 1 - Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, New York.pp.231-235

Kiskyras, D.A. (1950) The magnetic properties of pyrrhotite at various temperatures with special regard to its origin. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen, Abteilung A: Mineralogie, Petrographie 80A, 297-342.

Campbell, F.A. (1963) Sphalerite-pyrrhotite relationships at Quemont Mine. The Canadian Mineralogist: 7: 367-374.

Carpenter, R.H., Desborough, G.A. (1964) Range in solid solution and structure of naturally occurring troilite and pyrrhotite. American Mineralogist: 49: 1350-1365.

Desborough, G. A. and Carpenter, R. H. (1965): Phase relations of pyrrhotite. Economic Geology 60, 1431-1450.

Arnold, R.G. (1967) Range in composition and structure of 82 natural terrestrial pyrrhotites. The Canadian Mineralogist: 9: 31-50.

Fleet, M.E., MacRae, N. (1969) Two-phase hexagonal pyrrhotites. The Canadian Mineralogist: 9: 699-705.

Graham, A.R. (1969) Quantitative determination of hexagonal and monoclinic pyrrhotites by X-ray diffraction. The Canadian Mineralogist: 10: 4-24.

Clark, A. H. (1970) Quantitative determination of hexagonal and monoclinic pyrrhotites by X-ray diffraction: A discussion. The Canadian Mineralogist: 10: 278-280.

Yund, R. A., Hall, H. T. (1970) Kinetics and Mechanism of Pyrite Exsolution from Pyrrhotite. Journal of Petrology, 11 (2) 381-404 doi:10.1093/petrology/11.2.381

Fleet, M.E. (1971) The crystal structure of a pyrrhotite (Fe7S8). Acta Crystallographica: B27: 1864-1867.

Tokonami, M., Nishiguchi, K., Morimoto, N. (1971) Crystal structure of a monoclinic pyrrhotite (Fe7S8). American Mineralogist: 57: 1066-1080.

Batt, A.P. (1972) Nickel distribution in hexagonal and monoclinic pyrrhotite. The Canadian Mineralogist: 11: 892-897.

Carpenter, H.R., Bailey, A.C. (1973) Application of Ro and Ar measurements to the study of pyrrhotite and troilite. American Mineralogist: 58: 440-443.

Vaughan, D.J. (1973) Variation in properties of synthetic "pyrrhotites" of composition Fe (sub 1-x) S (O< or =x< or =0.14). The Canadian Mineralogist: 11: 1008-1011.

Ramsden, A.R. (1975) Compositions of coexisting pyrrhotites, pentlandites and pyrites at Spargoville, Western Australia. The Canadian Mineralogist: 13: 133-137.

Morimoto, N., Gyobu, A., Mukaiyama, H., Izawa, E. (1975) Crystallography and stability of pyrrhotites. Economic Geology: 70: 824-833.

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

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.

Durazzo, A. and Taylor, L.A. (1982): Exsolution in the mss-pentlandite system: Textural and genetic implications for Ni-sulfide ores. Mineralium Deposita 17, 313-332.

Kissin, S. A. and Scott, S. D. (1982): Phase relations involving pyrrhotite below 350°C. Economic Geology 77, 1739-1754.

King, H.E., Jr., Prewitt, C.T. (1982) High-pressure and high-temperature polymorphism of iron sulfide (FeS). Acta Crystallographica: B38: 1877-1887. [doi:10.1107/S0567740882007523]

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 Co9S8, Ni3S2, and Fe7S8. Inorganic Chemistry: 23: 872-874.

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: 194-210.

Craig, James R., Vokes, Frank M. (1993) The metamorphism of pyrite and pyritic ores: an overview. Mineralogical Magazine, 57 (386) 3-18 doi: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: 318-326.

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.

Froese, E. (2003) Point defects in pyrrhotite. The Canadian Mineralogist: 41: 1061-1067.

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, A.V., Vaqueiro, P., Knight, K.S., Chapon, L.C., Sanchez, R.D. (2004) Structure and magnetism in synthetic pyrrhotite Fe7S8: a powder neutron-diffraction study. Phys. Rev., Serie 3.B - Condensed Matter: 70: 014415-1 - 014415-12.

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.

Makovicky, E. (2006) Crystal structures of sulfides and other chalcogenides. Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry: 61: 7-125.

de Villiers, J.P.R., Liles, D.C. and Becker, M. (2009) The crystal structure of a naturally occurring 5C pyrrhotite from Sudbury, its chemistry, and vacancy distribution. American Mineralogist 94, 1405-1410. [but 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: 148-152.

Elliot, A.D. (2010): Structure of pyrrhotite 5C (Fe9S10). Acta Crystallographica B66, 271-279.

Becker, M., de Villiers, J., Bradshaw, D. (2010) The mineralogy and crystallography of pyrrhotite from selected nickel and PGE ore deposits. Economic Geology: 105: 1025-1037.

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: 716-731.

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: 257-261.

Ssu Han Li, Yen-Hua Chen, Jey-Jau Lee, Hwo-Shuenn Sheu (2018): Phase transition of iron sulphide minerals under hydrothermal conditions and magnetic investigations. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 45, 27-38.

Haines, C. R., Howard, C. J., Harrison, R. J., & Carpenter, M. 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), 1208-1224.

Lei Jin, Dimitrios Koulialias, Michael Schnedler, Andreas U. Gehring, Mihály Pósfai, Philipp Ebert, Michalis Charilaou, Robin E. Schäublin, Chun-Lin Jia, Jörg F. Löffler, and Rafal. E. Dunin-Borkowski (2021): Atomic-scale characterization of commensurate and incommensurate vacancy superstructures in natural pyrrhotites. American Mineralogist 106, 82-96.

Shu-hei Urashima, Keisuke Narahara, Hiroharu Yui (2022): The Raman spectra of freshly cleaved pyrrhotites: The effect of atmospheric weathering and laser-induced oxidation. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy 53, 2129-2136. https://doi.org/10.1002/jrs.6439

(2023) Pyrrhotite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Significant localities for PyrrhotiteHide

Showing 13 significant localities out of 10,983 recorded on mindat.org.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the

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Locality ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed.

- This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.

- Good crystals or important locality for species.

- World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). ~~Struck out~~ - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.


Australia
Tasmania West Coast municipality Zeehan mining district North Dundas ⓘ Renison Bell Mine (Renison Mine)	Renison Bell et al. (7) +4 other references

Brazil
Minas Gerais Nova Lima ⓘ Morro Velho mine	Rocks & Min.: 63:43 +2 other references

Canada
British Columbia Slocan Mining Division Riondel ⓘ Bluebell Mine	Grice et al. (1977) +1 other reference
Québec Nord-du-Québec Jamésie ⓘ Henderson No. 2 mine (Copper Rand mine)	Tavchandjian (1992)

Italy
Tuscany Lucca Province Stazzema ⓘ Bottino Mine	Benvenuti et al. (2000)

Kosovo
Mitrovica District Mitrovica Trepča complex ⓘ Trepča Stari Trg Mine	Joana Koà Odziejczyk et al. ( 2012) +4 other references

Norway
Buskerud ⓘ Kongsberg silver mining district	Neumann (1944)
Nordland Grane Svenningdalen ⓘ Svenningdalen Mines	Vogt (1900) +1 other reference

Peru
Ancash Bolognesi Province Huallanca District Huanzala ⓘ Huanzala Mine	Econ Geol (1985)

Romania
Maramureș County Baia Mare ⓘ Herja Mine	Palache et al. (1944) +4 other references

Russia
Primorsky Krai Dalnegorsk Urban District Dalnegorsk ⓘ Nikolaevskiy Mine	Dobovol'skaya et al. (1990) +3 other references

Switzerland
Valais Westlich Raron ⓘ Lötschberg Base Tunnel (south section)	Ansermet (2004) +3 other references

USA
Connecticut Tolland County Willington West Willington ⓘ Becker Quarry (Becker's Quarry)	Ague (1995)

Pyrrhotite

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