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Smythite

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Big Photo

Bloomington Crushed Stone Co. Quarry, Bloomington, Monroe Co., Indiana, USA
© T. Kennedy 2002

Show Smythite Photos (13)



Formula:
(Fe,Ni)
 
3+x
S
 
4
 (x=0-0.3)
System:TrigonalColour:brownish black, ...
Hardness:4½
Name:Named by Richard C. Erd, Howard T. Evans, Jr., and Donald H. Richter in 1957 after Charles Henry Smyth, Jr. (1867-1937), Professor of Economic Geology, Princeton University, New Jersey (USA)


Pyrrhotite Group.

An iron(-nickel) sulphide visually very similar to pyrrhotite and troilite.

Classification of Smythite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Explanation of status:May be a trigonal polytype of Pyrrhotite
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/C.19-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID: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 edition ID:2.8.10.2

2 : SULFIDES
8 : AmXp, with m:p = 1:1
Hey's CIM Ref.:3.9.7

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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Type Occurrence of Smythite

Type Locality:State Route 37 road cut (6), Bloomington, Monroe Co., Indiana, USA
Year of Discovery:1956
Associated Minerals at type locality:
PyrrhotiteMilleriteCalcite

Physical Properties of Smythite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:brownish black, bronze-yellow
Comment:Black with tinge of brown against a white surface; bronze yellow reflections from {0001}
Streak:dark gray
Hardness (Mohs):4½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
{0001)
Fracture:Sub-Conchoidal
Comment:Flexible and elastic in thin lamellae
Density (measured):4.06 g/cm3
Density (calculated):4.09 g/cm3

Crystallography of Smythite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3m - Ditrigonal Pyramidal
Space Group:R3m
Space Group Setting:R3m
Cell Parameters:a = 3.47Å, c = 34.50Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 9.942
Unit Cell Volume:V 359.76 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:3
Morphology:Thin pseudohexagonal plates [0001] and "a rhombohedron". Crystals are so thin at the type locality than the prism was not observed. Twinning common producing warped hexagonal plates. Impossible to visually distinguish at the type locality, and nearby locations, from pyrrhotite with which it constantly is associated (Erd et al., 1957).
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
11.5 (100)
5.75 (20)
2.99 (30)
2.57 (30)
2.27 (20)
2.17 (20)
1.99 (10)
1.74 (20)
Comments:ICDD 25-1182

Optical Data of Smythite

Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Strong with yellow and blue-grey interference colors
Pleochroism:Strong
Comments:Greyish yellow to reddish brown
Comments:Tends to be free of inclusions or intergrowths; strongly resembles pyrrhotite

Chemical Properties of Smythite

Formula:
(Fe,Ni)
 
3+x
S
 
4
 (x=0-0.3)
Essential elements:Fe, S
All elements listed in formula:Fe, Ni, S
Analytical Data:Smythite seems to have half of the Ni as does pyrrhotite, at the type locality; slowly soluble in dilute HCl and nitric acids as well as KOH and silver nitrate solutions
Relationship of Smythite to other Species
Structurally related to group(s):
Pyrrhotite Group
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- + 
2.CC.UM2007-26-S:CuFeIrNiPtRh
(Ir,Cu,Ni,Pt,Rh,Fe)
 
9
S
 
11
2.CC.05Achavalite
(Fe,Cu)Se
2.CC.05Breithauptite
NiSb
2.CC.05Freboldite
CoSe
2.CC.05Kotulskite
Pd(Te,Bi)
 
1-2
2.CC.05Langisite
(Co,Ni)As
2.CC.05Nickeline
NiAs
2.CC.05Sederholmite
beta-NiSe
2.CC.05Sobolevskite
PdBi
2.CC.05Stumpflite
Pt(Sb,Bi)
2.CC.05Sudburyite
(Pd,Ni)Sb
2.CC.05Jaipurite
CoS
2.CC.05Zlatogorite
NiCuSb
 
2
2.CC.10Pyrrhotite
Fe
 
1-x
S (x = 0 to 0.17)
2.CC.10Troilite
FeS
2.CC.15Cherepanovite
RhAs
2.CC.15Modderite
(Co,Fe)As
2.CC.15Ruthenarsenite
(Ru,Ni)As
2.CC.15Westerveldite
(Fe,Ni,Co)As
2.CC.20Millerite
NiS
2.CC.20Mäkinenite
γ-NiSe
2.CC.20UM1990-38-S:CuFeIrNiPtRh
(Ir,Pt,Ni,Fe)S
2.CC.25Mackinawite
(Fe,Ni)
 
9
S
 
8
2.CC.30Hexatestibiopanickelite
Ni(Te,Sb)
2.CC.30Vavřínite
Ni
 
2
SbTe
 
2
2.CC.35aBraggite
(Pt,Pd,Ni)S
2.CC.35bCooperite
PtS
2.CC.35aVysotskite
(Pd,Ni)S
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- + 
3.9.1Pyrrhotite
Fe
 
1-x
S (x = 0 to 0.17)
3.9.3Pyrite
FeS
 
2
3.9.4Marcasite
FeS
 
2
3.9.5Greigite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
S
 
4
3.9.6Mackinawite
(Fe,Ni)
 
9
S
 
8
3.9.8Achavalite
(Fe,Cu)Se
3.9.9Ferroselite
FeSe
 
2
3.9.10Frohbergite
FeTe
 
2
3.9.11Löllingite
FeAs
 
2
3.9.12Arsenopyrite
FeAsS
3.9.13Gudmundite
FeSbS
Other Names for Smythite
Other Languages:
German:Smythit
Russian:Смизит
Simplified Chinese:菱硫铁矿
Spanish:Smythita
Other Information
Fluorescence in UV light:Not fluorescent.
Magnetism:Ferromagnetic
Thermal Behaviour:Heating at 400° C changed smythite to pyrrhotite in 18 hours; at lower temperature (290° C) smythite was a mixture of smythite + pyrrhotite in the same time.
Other Information:Strongly ferromagnetic
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:		Easily rusts/oxidises to goethite when exposed to water or moist air although pyrrhotite tarnished and pitted sooner than smythite; crystals in calcite tend to be unoxidised and stable.
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
References for Smythite
Reference List:

- + 
J. Chem. Soc., London (1956) 78, 2017.



Erd, Richard C., Evans, Howard T. Jr., and Richter, Donald H. (1957) Smythite, A New Iron Sulfide, and Associated Pyrrhotite from Indiana. American Mineralogist, 42: 309-333.



American Mineralogist (1970) 55: 1650-1658.



American Mineralogist (1972) 57: 1571-1577.



American Mineralogist (1995) 80: 188.



European Journal of Mineralogy (1994) 6: 265-278.



Bon, C. E. and Rakovan, John (2011) The Morphology of Smythite (Fe,Ni)3S4, from Bloomington, Indiana, 38th Rochester Mineralogical Symposium Progran and Abstracts, p.10.
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    • Localities for Smythite
    






    


    

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the  symbol to view information about a locality. 
The  symbol next to localities in the list
can be used to jump to that position on the map.

    

    

    
Hide Locality List
     		

    (TL) indicates type locality.  ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.

    Australia
     
    

    • Western Australia
    

      • Widgiemooltha
    
    		No reference listed
    Canada
     
    

    • Manitoba
    

      • Flin Flon District
    
    		Economic Geology (1996) 91:1394-1413
    


      • Lac-du-Bonnet area
    
    		No reference listed
    

    • Ontario
    

      • Kenora District
    

        • Pickle Lake
    
    		Can Mineral 1984 22: 13-21
    


      • Rainy River District
    

        • Hutchinson Township
    

          • Atikokan
    
    		No reference listed
    


      • Thunder Bay District
    

        • Schreiber
    

    


      • Timiskaming District
    

        • Cobalt-Gowganda region
    

          • Cobalt area
    

            • Coleman Township
    
    		Dana's New Mineralogy; American Mineralogist (1970), 55:1650-1658
    

    • Québec
    

      • Abitibi-Témiscamingue
    

        • Témiscamingue RCM
    

          • Latulipe-et-Gaboury
    

    


      • Montréal
    
    		Mineralogical Record (2006): 37: 5-60.
    China
     
    

    • Gansu Province
    

      • Jinchang Prefecture
    

        • Jinchuan District
    
    		Shimpei Kano, Kuoxiong Sun, and Tsuyoshi Kitamura (1988): Bulletin of the Research Institute of Mineral Dressing and Metallurgy, Tohoku University 44(1), 15-30
    

    • Shaanxi Province
    

      • Hanzhong Prefecture
    

        • Mian Co.
    
    		Xueming Wang, Mengxiong Chen, Mei Li, and Furang Li (2002): Geology and Prospecting 38(6), 34-38
    Czech Republic
     
    

    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
    

      • Karlovy Vary Region
    

        • Krušné Hory Mts (Erzgebirge)
    

          • Jáchymov (St Joachimsthal) District
    
    		Lapis 2002(7/8), 63-65
    



        • Sokolov (Falkenau an der Eger)
    
    		Beran, P., Rojík, P.: Mineralogie a geologie lomu Lomnice v sokolovské hnědouhelné pánvi. Bulletin mineralogicko-petrografického oddělení Národního muzea v Praze, 1997, roč. 4-5, s. 77-83.
    France
     
    

    • Alsace
    

      • Haut-Rhin
    

        • Thur valley (Thann valley)
    

          • Kruth
    
    		Kolitsch: Aufschluss 2/1997; U. Kolitsch (1997): Neufunde von Mineralien aus einigen Vorkommen der Vogesen, Frankreich: Giromagny, Auxelles-Haut und Kruth 1. Aufschluss 48 (4), 243-256.
    

    • Auvergne
    

      • Haute-Loire
    

        • Lavoûte-Chilhac
    

          • Saint-Cirgues
    
    		P.G. Pélisson : "Etude Minéralogique et Métallogénique du District Filonien Polytype de Paulhaguet (Haute-Loire, Massif Central Français)", Doctorate Thesis, Orléans, France, 1989
    

    • Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
    

      • Alpes-Maritimes
    

        • Saint-Martin-Vésubie
    

          • Le Boréon
    
    		R. Pierrot, P. Picot, J. Féraud, J. Vernet : "Inventaire Minéralogique de la France N° 4 : Alpes-Maritimes", BRGM, 1974
    Germany
     
    

    • Baden-Württemberg
    

      • Black Forest
    

        • Haslach
    

          • Steinach
    
    		Walenta, K. (1998): Neue Mineralfunde aus dem Schwarzwald (7. Folge, 1.Teil). Lapis, 23 (11), 35-xx
    



        • St Blasien
    

          • Urberg
    
    		K. Walenta: "Die Mineralien des Schwarzwaldes", Weise (Munich), 1992
    



        • Wolfach
    

          • Oberwolfach
    

            • Rankach valley
    
    		Walenta, K. (1992): Die Mineralien des Schwarzwaldes. Chr. Weise Verlag, München, 336 pp. (in German)
    

    • Lower Saxony
    

      • Harz
    

        • St Andreasberg District
    

          • St Andreasberg
    
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
    

    • Thuringia
    

      • Gera
    

        • Ronneburg U deposit
    
    		Wolfgang Henckel
    Italy
     
    

    • Liguria
    

      • Genova Province
    

        • Ne
    

          • Graveglia Valley
    
    		[MinRec 32:356]
    

    • Piedmont
    

      • Torino Province
    

        • Sesia-Lanzo zone
    

          • Lanzo Valley
    

            • Lanzo Massif
    

              • Balangero - Corio area
    
    		Piccoli, G.C., Maletto, G., Bosio, P., Lombardo, B. (2007): Minerali del Piemonte e della Valle d'Aosta. Associazione Amici del Museo "F. Eusebio" Alba, Ed., Alba (Cuneo) 607 pp.
    


      • Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province
    

        • Formazza Valley
    

          • Formazza
    
    		Piccoli, G.C., Maletto, G., Bosio, P., Lombardo, B. (2007). Minerali del Piemonte e della Valle d'Aosta. Associazione Amici del Museo "F. Eusebio" Alba, Ed., Alba (Cuneo) 607 pp.
    

    • Tuscany
    

      • Lucca Province
    

        • Apuan Alps
    

          • Seravezza
    
    		Orlandi et al., 1996. Minerals of the Seravezza Marble, Tuscany, Italy. Min. Rec., 27: 47-58. ; Orlandi, P. & Criscuolo, A. (2009). Minerali del marmo delle Alpi Apuane. Pacini editore, Pisa, 180 pp.
    




          • Stazzema
    

            • Ponte Stazzemese
    
    		Orlandi P., Dini A., 2004. Die Mineralien der Buca della Vena-Mine, Apuaner Berge, Toskana (Italien). Lapis, 1: 11-24
    


      • Massa-Carrara Province
    

        • Apuan Alps
    
    		Orlandi P., Franzini M., 1994. I minerali del marmo di Carrara. Amilcare Pizzi S.p.A., Milano. ; Orlandi, P. & Criscuolo, A. (2009). Minerali del marmo delle Alpi Apuane. Pacini editore,  Pisa, 180 pp. 
    




Orlandi P., Franzini M., 1994. I minerali del marmo di Carrara. Amilcare Pizzi S.p.A., Milano. 
    




Orlandi P., Franzini M., 1994. I minerali del marmo di Carrara. Amilcare Pizzi S.p.A., Milano. 
    




          • Massa
    

    Japan
     
    

    • Honshu Island
    

      • Chubu Region
    

        • Gifu Prefecture
    

          • Hida City
    
    		specimen seen at Kyoto show, 2010
    


      • Tohoku Region
    

        • Iwate Prefecture
    

          • Kamaishi City
    
    		Imai et al (1976) Ganseki-Koubutsu-Koshogaku Zasshi, 71, 255-263.
    Norway
     
    

    • Nordland
    

      • Ballangen
    

        • Håfjellet
    
    		Foslie, S. (1950): Supergene marcasite, replacing pyrrhotite. Norsk Geologisk Tidsskrift 28, 144-150; Neumann, H. (1985): Norges Mineraler. Norges Geologiske Undersøkelse Skrifter 68.
    Slovakia
     
    

    • Banská Bystrica Region
    

      • Poltár Co.
    
    		Koděra,  M.  et al., 1986 a  1990 : Topografická mineralógia Slovenska, diel  1- 3, Veda – Vydavateľstvo SAV, Bratislava, 1990, 1 – 1590k
    Switzerland
     
    

    • Solothurn
    

      • Lommiswil
    
    		Stalder, H. A., Wagner, A., Graeser, S. and Stuker, P. (1998): "Mineralienlexikon der Schweiz", Wepf (Basel), p. 379.
    


      • Olten
    

        • Trimbach
    

          • Unter Hauenstein
    
    		Stalder, H. A., Wagner, A., Graeser, S. and Stuker, P. (1998): "Mineralienlexikon der Schweiz", Wepf (Basel), p. 379.
    

    • Ticino (Tessin)
    

      • Blenio Valley
    

        • Camadra Valley
    
    		Stalder, H. A., Wagner, A., Graeser, S. and Stuker, P. (1998): "Mineralienlexikon der Schweiz", Wepf (Basel), p. 379.
    


      • Leventina
    

        • Faido
    

          • Monte Piottino
    
    		Stalder, H. A., Wagner, A., Graeser, S. and Stuker, P. (1998): "Mineralienlexikon der Schweiz", Wepf (Basel), p. 379.
    

    • Wallis (Valais)
    

      • Binn Valley
    

        • Im Feld (Imfeld; Feld; Fäld)
    
    		Stalder, H. A., Wagner, A., Graeser, S. and Stuker, P. (1998): "Mineralienlexikon der Schweiz", Wepf (Basel), p. 379.
    


      • Brig
    

        • Simplon pass area
    
    		Stalder, H. A., Wagner, A., Graeser, S. and Stuker, P. (1998): "Mineralienlexikon der Schweiz", Wepf (Basel), p. 379.
    


      • Lötschen valley
    

        • Goppenstein
    
    		Rüegg, H.-R. & Klemm, L. (2002): Silbererze aus dem Bergwerk Goppenstein, Wallis (Schweiz). Lapis, 27 (3), 25-34.
    Ukraine
     
    

    • Crimea Oblast'
    
    		World of Stones v.9
    



        • Kerch peninsula (Kertch peninsula)
    

          • Kerchenskyi (Fe)-ore basin
    

            • Kerchenskoe deposit
    
    		Arbuzov V.A. et al. (1967) Kerch Iron-Ore Basin (Kerchenskii Zhelezorydny Bassein)/ - Moscow:Nedra. - 576 h/ (Rus.)
    



        • Sudak area
    
    		Alexander I. Tischenko (1996. Minerals of the Crimea - World of stones, 1996, #9, p. 9-18
    USA
     
    

    • California
    

      • Kern Co.
    

        • Kramer District
    

          • Boron
    
    		Morgan, V. and Erd, R.C. (1969) Minerals of the Kramer borate district, California California Division of Mines and Geology Mineral Information Service: 22(9): 168; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 66; Cal Div of Mines & Geology "Mineral Information Service: 22(10) (Oct 1969).
    






    

    • Colorado
    

      • Fremont Co.
    

        • Iron Mountain complex
    
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
    

    • Indiana
    

      • Jackson Co.
    

        • Medora
    
    		Rocks & Min.: 61: 145.
    


      • Monroe Co.
    

        • Bloomington
    
    		J.Chem.Soc.,London(1956) 78, p. 2017; Mineral Reference Manual (Nickel and Nichols 1991); American Mineralogist (1957): 42: 309-333.
    



Erd, R. C. and S.S. Greenburg (1960) Minerals of Indiana. Indiana Geological Survey Bulletin 18 73pp
    



Erd, R. C. and S.S. Greenburg (1960) Minerals of Indiana. Indiana Geological Survey Bulletin 18 73pp
    



Erd, R. C. and S.S. Greenburg (1960) Minerals of Indiana. Indiana Geological Survey Bulletin 18 73pp; American Mineralogist (1957): 42: 309-333.
    



Erd, R. C. and S.S. Greenburg (1960) Minerals of Indiana. Indiana Geological Survey Bulletin 18 73pp
    


C. Boutry
    



        • Harrodsburg
    
    		Erd, R. C. and S.S. Greenburg (1960) Minerals of Indiana. Indiana Geological Survey Bulletin 18 73pp
    



Dr. John Rakovan specimens.
    

    • Kentucky
    

      • Lincoln Co.
    

        • Halls Gap
    
    		Mineralogical Record, v. 28, n. 6, 1997 ; Rocks & Minerals 81:420-440
    


      • Nelson Co.
    

        • Frederickstown
    
    		Alan Goldstein (2006) Kentucky Mineral Locality Index. Rocks & Minerals 81:420-440
    


      • Washington Co.
    

        • Springfield
    
    		Alan Goldstein (2006) Kentucky Mineral Locality Index. Rocks & Minerals 81:420-440
    

    • New York
    

      • Oneida Co.
    

        • Lairdsville
    
    		Erd, Richard C., Evans, Howard T. Jr., and Richter, Donald H., 1957, Smythite, A New Iron Sulfide, and Associated Pyrrhotite from Indiana, American Mineralogist, 42: 309-333.
    

    


    

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