Pyrrhotite
Mineral Fe1-xS
Also called Magnetic pyrites
About it
Bronze sulfide that is usually drawn to a magnet, though the pull varies, which sets it apart from pyrite. Platy crystals from Dalnegorsk, Russia, Trepča, Kosovo, and Santa Eulalia, Mexico; ore at Sudbury.
- Type
- Mineral
- Group
- Sulfide, pyrrhotite group
- Formula
- Fe1-xS
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 3.5–4.5
- Specific gravity
- 4.58–4.65
- Streak
- dark greyish black
- Lustre
- metallic
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Colours
- bronze yellow, brownish bronze
- Transparency
- opaque
- Cleavage and fracture
- none; basal parting, uneven fracture
- Magnetic
- Strongly
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.