cubic Sulfides
Pyrite (Pyritohedron)
Formula FeS2
Crystal Structure
#! Species: Pyrite
#! System: Cubic (23)
#! Habit: Pentagonal dodecahedron (pyritohedron)
cubic[23]:{210}
cubic
23
{210}
Quick Facts
Hardness
6.5
Specific Gravity
4.95
Optical Character
Isotropic
Physical Properties
- Crystal System
- cubic
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 6.5
- Specific Gravity
- 4.95
- Cleavage
- Poor {100}
- Fracture
- Conchoidal to uneven
- Lustre
- Metallic
Optical Properties
- Optical Character
- Isotropic
- Pleochroism
- None
Characteristics
Colours
Brass yellowPale goldTarnished (iridescent)
Localities
Spain (Navajun, La Rioja)Italy (Elba, Traversella)PeruUSA (Illinois, Colorado)
Common Inclusions
Growth striationsInclusions of gold
Crystal Forms
pyritohedron
Notes
The pyritohedron (pentagonal dodecahedron) is unique to the cubic system with lower symmetry (point group 23)
Related Minerals
Other minerals in the cubic system
