Pyrrhotite is an iron sulfide mineral found in basic igneous rocks, pegmatites, vein deposits, and contact metamorphic deposits. It is slighly magnetic.

Most of the magnetite mined is used as an ore of iron. Iron liberated from the ore is usually used to make iron, steel and other alloys.

Use of Magnetite as an Abrasive
The abrasive known as "emery" is a natural mixture of magnetite and corundum. Some synthetic emery is produced by mixing magnetite with aluminum oxides. Producing it synthetically allows control over the particle size and the relative abundance of aluminum oxide and magnetite. Some finely ground magnetite is also used as an abrasive in water jet cutting. In the past few decades synthetic abrasives have filled many of applications where magnetite was previously used.

Today geologists can study the magnetic properties of rocks of various age and reconstruct the history of change in Earth's magnetic field. This information is available for multiple locations on multiple continents. It can also be used to learn about the movement of continents over time.

A similar orientation of tiny magnetite grains occurs in the settling of sediment particles, locking clues to Earth's magnetic history into some sedimentary rocks.

Contributor: Hobart King

Chalcopyrite

Mineral Properties and Uses

What is Chalcopyrite?

Chalcopyrite is a copper iron sulfide. It is the most commonly encountered copper mineral and is the most important ore of copper. Chalcopyrite deposits are found in hydrothermal veins, void fillings and replacements in limestones, contact metamorphic deposits and magmatic separations. Minor amounts are found throughout many igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks.

Physical Properties of Chalcopyrite
Uses	An important ore of copper.
Color	brass yellow
Streak	greenish black
Luster	metallic
Diaphaneity	opaque
Cleavage	Poor
Mohs Hardness	3.5 - 4
Specific Gravity	4.1 - 4.3
Distinguishing Characteristics	color, streak, softer than pyrite
Chemical Composition	copper iron sulfide, CuFeS2
Crystal System	tetragonal

Pyrite

Mineral Properties and Uses

With a nickname of "Fool's Gold" it is surprising that pyrite often contains significant amounts of gold

What is Pyrite?

Pyrite is a brass-yellow mineral with a bright metallic luster. It has a chemical composition of iron disulfide (FeS₂) and is the most common sulfide mineral. It forms at high and low temperatures and occurs, usually in small quantities, in igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks worldwide.

The name “pyrite” is after the Greek “pyr” meaning “fire.” This name was given because pyrite can be used to create the sparks needed for starting a fire if it is struck against metal or another hard material. Pieces of pyrite have also been used as a spark-producing material in flintlock firearms.

Pyrite has a nickname that has become famous - “Fool’s Gold.” The mineral's gold color, metallic luster and high specific gravity often cause it to be mistaken for gold by inexperienced prospectors. However, pyrite is often associated with gold. The two minerals often form together, and in some deposits pyrite contains enough included gold to warrant mining.

Identifying Pyrite

Hand-specimens of pyrite are usually easy to identify. The mineral always has a brass-yellow color, a metallic luster and a high specific gravity. It is harder than other yellow metallic minerals and its streak is black, usually with a tinge of green. It often occurs in well-formed crystals in the shape of cubes, octahedrons or pyritohedrons, which often have striated faces.

The only common mineral that has properties similar to pyrite is marcasite, a dimorph of pyrite with the same chemical composition but an orthorhombic crystal structure. Marcasite does not have the same brassy yellow color of pyrite. Instead it is a pale brass color, sometimes with a slight tint of green. Marcasite is more brittle than pyrite and also has a slightly lower specific gravity at 4.8.

Pyrite and gold can easily be distinguished. Gold is very soft and will bend or dent with pin pressure. Pyrite is brittle and thin pieces will break with pin pressure. Gold leaves a yellow streak, while pyrite's streak is greenish black. Gold also has a much higher specific gravity. A little careful testing will help you avoid the "Fool's Gold" problem.

Physical Properties of Pyrite
Color	brass yellow - often tarnished to dull brass
Streak	greenish black to brownish black
Luster	metallic
Diaphaneity	opaque
Cleavage	breaks with a conchoidal fracture
Mohs Hardness	6 - 6.5
Specific Gravity	4.9 - 5.2
Diagnostic Properties	color, hardness, brittle, greenish black streak
Chemical Composition	iron sulfide, FeS2
Crystal System	isometric

Uses of Pyrite?
Pyrite is composed of iron and sulfur; however, the mineral does not serve as an important source of either of these elements. Iron is typically obtained from oxide ores such as hematite and magnetite. These ores occur in much larger accumulations, the iron is easier to extract and the metal is not contaminated with sulfur, which reduces its strength.

Pyrite used to be an important ore for the production of sulfur and sulfuric acid. Today most sulfur is obtained as a byproduct of natural gas and crude oil processing. Some sulfur continues to be produced from pyrite as a byproduct of gold production.

The most important use of pyrite is as an ore of gold. Gold and pyrite form under similar conditions and occur together in the same rocks. In some deposits small amounts of gold occur as inclusions and substitutions within pyrite.

Some pyrites can contain 0.25% gold by weight or more. Although this is a tiny fraction of the ore, the value of gold is so high that the pyrite might be a worthwhile mining target. If pyrite contains 0.25% gold and the gold price is $1500 per troy ounce, then one ton of pyrite will contain about 73 troy ounces of gold worth over $109,000. That is not a guaranteed money-maker. It depends upon how efficiently the gold can be recovered and the cost of the recovery process.

Pyrite is occasionally used as a gemstone. It is fashioned into beads, cut into cabochons, faceted, and carved into shapes. This type of jewelry was popular in the United States and Europe in the mid- to late-1800s. Most of the jewelry stones were called "marcasite," but they are actually pyrite. (Marcasite would be a poor choice for jewelry because it quickly oxidizes, and the oxidation products cause damage to anything that they contact. Pyrite is not an excellent jewelry stone because it easily tarnishes.)

Pyrite and Coal Mining

Sulfur occurs in coal in three different forms: 1) organic sulfur, 2) sulfate minerals and 3) sulfide minerals (mostly pyrite with minor amounts of marcasite). When the coal is burned, these forms of sulfur are converted into sulfur dioxide gas and contribute to air pollution and acid rain unless they are removed from the emissions. The sulfide mineral content of the coal can be reduced by heavy mineral separation, but this removal is expensive, results in a loss of coal and can not be done with 100% efficiency.

The sulfide minerals in coal and its surrounding rocks can produce acid mine drainage. Before mining, these minerals are deep within the ground and below the water table where they are not subject to oxidation. During and after mining the level of the water table often falls, exposing the sulfides to oxidation. This oxidation produces acid mine drainage which contaminates ground water and streams. Mining also breaks the rocks above and below the coal. This creates more pathways for the movement of oxygenated waters and exposes more surface area to oxidation.

Pyrite and Construction Projects

Aggregates used to make concrete, concrete block and asphalt paving materials must be free of pyrite. Pyrite will oxidize when it is exposed to air and moisture. That oxidation will result in the production of acids and a volume change that will damage the concrete and reduce its strength. This damage can result in failure or maintenance problems.

Pyrite should not be present in the base material, subsoil or bedrock under roads, parking lots or buildings. Oxidation of pyrite can result in damage to pavement, foundations and floors. In parts of the country where pyrite is commonly found, construction sites should be tested to detect the presence of pyritic materials. If pyrite is detected, the site can be rejected or the problem materials can be excavated and replaced with quality fill.

Pyrite and Organic Material

The conditions of pyrite formation in the sedimentary environment include a supply of iron, a supply of sulfur and an oxygen-poor environment. This often occurs in association with decaying organic materials. Organic decay consumes oxygen and releases sulfur. For this reason pyrite commonly and preferentially occurs in dark-colored organic-rich sediments such as coal and black shale. The pyrite often replaces organic materials such as plant debris and shells to create interesting fossils composed of pyrite.

Contributor: Hobart King

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Ilmenite

Mineral Properties and Uses

What is Ilmenite?

Physical Properties of Ilmenite
Color	black
Streak	black
Luster	metallic, submetallic
Diaphaneity	opaque
Cleavage	none
Mohs Hardness	5.5 - 6
Specific Gravity	4.7 - 4.8
Distinguishing Characteristics	streak, weakly magnetic
Chemical Composition	iron titanium oxide , FeTiO3, sometimes has significant magnesium and manganese substituting for the iron to yield a composition of (Fe, Mg, Mn)TiO3
Crystal System	hexagonal

Uses of Ilmenite?

Ilmenite is the primary ore of titanium. It is also used in the manufacture of titanium dioxide for paint pigments. Titanium is used to manufacture a wide variety of metal parts where light weight and very high strength are needed. Examples include: aircraft parts, artificial joints for humans and sporting equipment such as bicycle frames. Titanium is also used in a number of high-performance alloys.

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