Pentlandite

Pentlandite
Pentlandite
	3.1 × 2.6 cm mass of pentlandite with some pyrrhotite
General
Category	Sulfide mineral
Formula; (repeating unit)	iron nickel sulfide: (Fe,Ni)9S8
IMA symbol	Pn
Strunz classification	2.BB.15a
Dana classification	2.7.1.1
Crystal system	Isometric
Crystal class	Hexoctahedral (m3m) ; H-M symbol: (4/m 3 2/m)
Space group	Fm3m
Unit cell	a = 9.928 Å, Z = 4
Identification
Formula mass	771.94 g/mol
Color	Yellowish bronze
Crystal habit	Hexoctahedral rare; massive to granular
Cleavage	Absent – octahedral parting on {111}
Fracture	Conchoidal
Tenacity	Brittle
Mohs scale hardness	3.5–4
Luster	Metallic
Streak	Light bronze-brown; Greenish black
Diaphaneity	Opaque
Specific gravity	4.6–5.0
Density	4.6–5 g/cm3
Fusibility	1.5–2
Other characteristics	Becomes magnetic upon heating
References

Pentlandite is an iron–nickel sulfide with the chemical formula (Fe,Ni)₉S₈. Pentlandite has a narrow variation range in nickel to iron ratios (Ni:Fe), but it is usually described as 1:1. In some cases, this ratio is skewed by the presence of pyrrhotite inclusions. It also contains minor cobalt, usually at low levels as a fraction of weight.

Pentlandite forms isometric crystals, but it is normally found in massive granular aggregates. It is brittle with a hardness of 3.5–4 and specific gravity of 4.6–5.0 and is non-magnetic. It has a yellowish bronze color and a metallic luster.^[10]

Pentlandite is found in abundance within ultramafic rocks, making it one of the most important sources of mined nickel.^[11] It also occasionally occurs within mantle xenoliths and "black smoker" hydrothermal vents.^[12]

^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
^ ^a ^b Handbook of Mineralogy
^ ^a ^b Mindat.org
^ ^a ^b Hurlbut, Cornelius S.; Klein, Cornelis, 1985, Manual of Mineralogy, 20th ed., Wiley, p. 280-281 ISBN 0-471-80580-7
^ ^a ^b Mindat.org - Forum
^ ^a ^b Webmineral.com
^ ^a ^b "Pentlandit" (in German).
^ ^a ^b Schumann, Walter (1991). Mineralien aus aller Welt (in German) (2nd ed.). BLV. p. 224. ISBN 978-3-405-14003-8.
^ Mineralienatlas
^ "Pentlandite". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
^ Kerfoot, Derek G. E. (2005). "Nickel". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a17_157. ISBN 978-3527306732.
^ "Pentlandite" (PDF). Handbook of Mineralogy.

[1] Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.

[HBM-2] Handbook of Mineralogy

[Mindat-3] Mindat.org

[Manual-4] Hurlbut, Cornelius S.; Klein, Cornelis, 1985, Manual of Mineralogy, 20th ed., Wiley, p. 280-281 ISBN 0-471-80580-7

[forum-5] Mindat.org - Forum

[Webmin-6] Webmineral.com

[Mineralienatlas-7] "Pentlandit" (in German).

[Mineralien-8] Schumann, Walter (1991). Mineralien aus aller Welt (in German) (2nd ed.). BLV. p. 224. ISBN 978-3-405-14003-8.

[9] Mineralienatlas

[10] "Pentlandite". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 2023-02-20.

[ullmann-1-11] Kerfoot, Derek G. E. (2005). "Nickel". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a17_157. ISBN 978-3527306732.

[Handbook_of_Mineralogy-12] "Pentlandite" (PDF). Handbook of Mineralogy.

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