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Marcasite

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
This page kindly sponsored by Mark Kucera
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About MarcasiteHide

Formula:
FeS2
Colour:
Pale brass-yellow, tin-white on fresh exposures.
Lustre:
Metallic, Sub-Metallic
Hardness:
6 - 6½
Specific Gravity:
4.887
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
Early use of the word marcasite seems to have been unspecific. The word is Arabic or Moorish and was applied to pyrite and similar metallic bronze colored minerals.

Walter Pope (1665) mentioned marcasite occurring in the mercury ores of the Idria Mine, Cividale del Friuli in the Julian Alps of Slovenia: "There are also several Marcasites and stones, which seem to have specks of Gold in them, but upon trial they say, they find none in them. These round stones are some of them very ponderous, and well impregnated with Mercury; others light, having little or none in them."

The mercury ore at Idria does contain metallic golden specks of what is now called marcasite, but it also has metallic golden pyrite. Johnathan Hill used the name marcasite in 1771, but his usage was also indiscriminate and was a term for any massive "pyrites" or "mundic". In 1845, Wilhelm Karl von Haidinger defined marcasite as the mineral is known today.
Dimorph of:
Marcasite Group.

The orthorhombic polymorph of isometric (cubic) pyrite. A common natural disulfide. Compare UM1997-43-S:Fe.

Crystals common, metallic pale brass-yellow colored, tabular or pyramidal, often with curved faces and often deeply striated. 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.
May be intergrown or replaced by pyrite.

According to Schmøkel et al. (2014), effective charges on sulfur and iron are ca. -1/3 and ca. +2/3, respectively. This is in opposition to -1 and +2 charges as would be suggested by purely ionic bonding.




Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
2571
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2571:9

Similar NamesHide

MarcasitesA synonym of Pyrite
MarchasiteA synonym of 'Marchasita'

IMA Classification of MarcasiteHide

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

Classification of MarcasiteHide

2.EB.10a

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 ed.:
2.12.2.1
2.12.2.1

2 : SULFIDES
12 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:2
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

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.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
MrcIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43
MrcSiivolam & 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
MrcWhitney & 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
MrcThe Canadian Mineralogist (2019)The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download

Pronunciation of MarcasiteHide

Pronunciation:
PlayRecorded byCountry
Jolyon RalphUnited Kingdom

Physical Properties of MarcasiteHide

Metallic, Sub-Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Comment:
Frequently iridescence obscures the luster and color
Colour:
Pale brass-yellow, tin-white on fresh exposures.
Streak:
Dark-gray to black.
Hardness:
6 - 6½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN200=915 - 1099 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Hardness Data:
Measured
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
Distinct on {101}. {110} in traces.
Fracture:
Conchoidal, Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
4.887 g/cm3 (Measured)    4.875 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of MarcasiteHide

Anisotropism:
Strong yellow to light green to dark green
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)R2 (%)
400nm40.4%44.5%
420nm41.9%45.4%
440nm43.4%47.3%
460nm44.3%50.1%
480nm45.2%52.8%
500nm46.3%54.8%
520nm47.7%56.1%
540nm48.9%56.3%
560nm49.5%55.9%
580nm49.6%55.2%
600nm49.5%54.8%
620nm49.2%54.8%
640nm48.7%53.8%
660nm47.9%52.9%
680nm47.2%51.9%
700nm46.6%51.2%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 56.3%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Pleochroism:
Strong
Comments:
Creamy white, light yellowish white, white with rose-brown tint.

Chemistry of MarcasiteHide

Mindat Formula:
FeS2
Element Weights:
Element% weight
S53.453 %
Fe46.547 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
S
Fe
Common Impurities:
Cu,As

Crystallography of MarcasiteHide

Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pnnm
Setting:
Pnnm
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.436 Å, b = 5.414 Å, c = 3.381 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.819 : 1 : 0.624
Unit Cell V:
81.20 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Crystals usually tabular on {010}, also pyramidal, faces often curved, frequently twinned; also stalactic, globular, or reniform with radiating internal structure.
Twinning:
Common on {101}, forming "swallowtail" contact twins; this may be repeated to form stellate fivelings. Less common on {011}.

Crystallographic forms of MarcasiteHide

Crystal Atlas:
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Marcasite no.80 - {010} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
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Marcasite no.90 - {101} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
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Marcasite no.141 - {101} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
View 3D crystal model
Marcasite no.148 - {101} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by www.smorf.nl.

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0012727MarcasiteRieder M, Crelling J C, Sustai O, Drabek M, Weiss Z, Klementova M (2007) Arsenic in iron disulfides in a brown coal from the North Bohemian Basin, Czech Republic International Journal of Coal Geology 71 115-1212007Dul CSA mine, North Bohemian Basin, Czech Republic0293
0012726MarcasiteRieder M, Crelling J C, Sustai O, Drabek M, Weiss Z, Klementova M (2007) Arsenic in iron disulfides in a brown coal from the North Bohemian Basin, Czech Republic International Journal of Coal Geology 71 115-1212007synthetic0293
0000008MarcasiteBuerger M J (1931) The crystal structure of marcasite American Mineralogist 16 361-3951931Joplin, Missouri, USA0293
0017921MarcasiteBuerger M (1937) Interatomic Distances in Marcasite and Notes on the Bonding in Crystals of Loellingite, Arsenopyrite, and Marcasite Types. _cod_database_code 1011013 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 97 504-51319370293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

Epitaxial Relationships of MarcasiteHide

Epitaxial Minerals:
Epitaxy Comments:
Twinned prismatic marcasite crystals attached along pyrite octahedron edges from Rensselaer, Indiana (Brock and Slater, 1978). See also Rakovan et al. (1995).

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
3.431 Å(66)
2.868 Å(3)
2.707 Å(34)
2.689 Å(100)
2.408 Å(36)
2.311 Å(31)
2.052 Å(3)
1.9077 Å(30)
1.7545 Å(51)
1.7156 Å(9)
1.6905 Å(18)
1.6716 Å(12)
1.5921 Å(19)
1.5299 Å(4)
1.5164 Å(6)
1.4985 Å(6)
1.4339 Å(4)
1.4264 Å(10)
1.3644 Å(6)
1.2115 Å(4)
1.2090 Å(4)
1.2042 Å(4)
1.1886 Å(5)
1.1554 Å(5)
1.0902 Å(9)
1.0707 Å(2)
1.0519 Å(2)
1.0312 Å(5)
1.0294 Å(4)
1.0129 Å(2)
0.9879 Å(5)
0.9820 Å(2)
Comments:
ICDD 24-74

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 3a: Earth’s earliest Hadean crust>4.50
11 : Volcanic fumarole minerals; reduced phases (see also #45)
Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere>4.45
15 : Black/white smoker minerals and other seafloor hydrothermal minerals
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
53 : Other minerals with taphonomic origins<0.4
Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals<10 Ka
54 : Coal and other mine fire minerals (see also #51 and #56)
55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals
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 FeS2, forms under conditions of higher temperatures and lower acidity or alkaline environments.

Synonyms of MarcasiteHide

Other Language Names for MarcasiteHide

Varieties of MarcasiteHide

BlueiteNickel-bearing variety of marcasite.

The name was given by Dr. S. H. Emmens in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol. XIV, No. 7. It is noted that the substance was, in 1915, now regarded as a nickeliferous variety of marcasite. This material...
Cellular PyritesQuoted in J.D. Dana (1837) Syst. Min. 1st ed. p.405
Cockscomb PyriteA variety of Marcasite showing a cockscomb habit.
LonchiditeAn As-bearing variety of marcasite.

First reported from Churprinz Friedrich August Erbstolln Mine (Churprinz Mine; Kurprinz Mine), Großschirma, Freiberg District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany.
spear pyriteA marcasite in twin crystals resembling the head of a spear.

Relationship of Marcasite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Other Members of Marcasite Group:
FerroseliteFeSe2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
FrohbergiteFeTe2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
KulleruditeNiSe2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
MattagamiteCoTe2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
PetříčekiteCuSe2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
2,042 photos of Marcasite associated with CalciteCaCO3
1,128 photos of Marcasite associated with QuartzSiO2
939 photos of Marcasite associated with GalenaPbS
932 photos of Marcasite associated with PyriteFeS2
901 photos of Marcasite associated with SphaleriteZnS
768 photos of Marcasite associated with DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
486 photos of Marcasite associated with BaryteBaSO4
391 photos of Marcasite associated with ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
366 photos of Marcasite associated with SideriteFeCO3
359 photos of Marcasite associated with FluoriteCaF2

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.EB.SelenolauriteRuSe2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.AndrieslombaarditeRhSbSIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.Iridarsenite(Ir,Ru)As2Mon. 2/m : P21/c
2.EB.Kanatzidisite(SbBiS3)2Te2Mon. 2/m : P21/m
2.EB.05aVaesiteNiS2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aHaueriteMnS2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aLauriteRuS2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aGaotaiiteIr3Te8Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aPenroseite(Ni,Co,Cu)Se2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aFukuchiliteCu3FeS8Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aVillamanínite(Cu,Ni,Co,Fe)S2Tric.
2.EB.05aErlichmaniteOsS2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aSperrylitePtAs2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aGeversitePtSb2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aCattieriteCoS2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aAurostibiteAuSb2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aTrogtaliteCoSe2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05a v'Cayeuxite'
2.EB.05aKruťaiteCuSe2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aPyriteFeS2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aInsizwaitePtBi2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05bBambollaiteCu(Se,Te)2Tet.
2.EB.05aDzharkeniteFeSe2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.10eParacostibiteCoSbSOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbca
2.EB.10fOeniteCoSbAsOrth.
2.EB.10ePararammelsbergiteNiAs2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbca
2.EB.10aMattagamiteCoTe2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.10aFrohbergiteFeTe2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.10dCostibiteCoSbSOrth. mm2 : Pmn21
2.EB.10bAlloclasiteCo1-xFexAsSMon. 2 : P21
2.EB.10cGlaucodot(Co0.50Fe0.50)AsSOrth. mm2 : Pmn21
2.EB.10aPetříčekiteCuSe2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.10aKulleruditeNiSe2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.10aFerroseliteFeSe2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.15bSeinäjokiteFeSb2Orth.
2.EB.15aRammelsbergiteNiAs2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.15aClinosaffloriteCoAs2Mon. 2/m : P21/m
2.EB.15cPaxiteCuAs2Mon. 2/m : P21/c
2.EB.15aNisbiteNiSb2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.15aLöllingiteFeAs2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.15aSafflorite(Co,Ni,Fe)As2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.15aOmeiiteOsAs2Orth.
2.EB.15aAnduoiteRuAs2Orth.
2.EB.20ArsenopyriteFeAsSMon. 2/m : P21/c
2.EB.20Ruarsite(Ru,Os)AsSMon.
2.EB.20Osarsite(Os,Ru)AsSMon.
2.EB.20GudmunditeFeSbSMon. 2/m : P21/c
2.EB.25MayingiteIrBiTeIso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.25MaslovitePtBiTeIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25ParagersdorffiteNi(As,S)2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.25OrthogersdorffiteNiAsSOrth. mm2 : Pca21
2.EB.25SulfopadmaitePdBiSIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25JolliffeiteNiAsSeIso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.25CobaltiteCoAsSOrth. mm2 : Pca21
2.EB.25GuixiangiteNiBiSIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25TestibiopalladitePdSbTeIso.
2.EB.25 va'Antimony-bearing Gersdorffite'Ni(As,Sb)S
2.EB.25KalungaitePdAsSeIso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.25Hollingworthite(Rh,Pt,Pd)AsSIso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.25MicheneritePdBiTeIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25GersdorffiteNiAsSIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25MilotaitePdSbSeIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25TolovkiteIrSbSIso.
2.EB.25'Platarsite'Pt(As,S)2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.25WillyamiteCoSbS
2.EB.25ChangchengiteIrBiSIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25KvačekiteNiSbSeIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25KrutoviteNiAs2Iso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25PadmaitePdBiSeIso. 432
2.EB.25UllmanniteNiSbSIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25Irarsite(Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsSIso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.30UrvantsevitePd(Bi,Pb)2Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I4/mmm
2.EB.35RheniiteReS2Tric. 1 : P1

Fluorescence of MarcasiteHide

Not fluorescent in ultraviolet light

Other InformationHide

Health Risks:
Marcasite is unstable to metastable and can deteriorate to iron sulfates and sulfuric acid (see Pyrite Decay). Always wash hands after handling. Avoid inhaling dust when handling or breaking. Never lick or ingest.

Marcasite in petrologyHide

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

Internet Links for MarcasiteHide

References for MarcasiteHide

Reference List:

Localities for MarcasiteHide

Showing 7,184 localities.

This 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.
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