Mineral Factbook

Pentlandite

(Ni,Fe)9S8IMA symbol: Pngrandfathered

Pentlandite is a sulfide or sulfosalt mineral with the formula (Ni,Fe)9S8, crystallizing in the cubic system. It has a Mohs hardness of 3.5-4, typically yellow in color, with a metallic luster, a specific gravity of 4.541. Its streak is brown.

Photos

Pentlandite specimen photo
Gumideck · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Pentlandite specimen photo
Gumideck · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Pentlandite specimen photo
Mai Seppel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Pentlandite specimen photo
Tõnis Saadre · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons

Crystallography

Crystal systemcubic crystal systemWikidata (CC0)
Space groupF m -3 m
Cell (Å, °)a = 10.1075, b = 10.1075, c = 10.1075; α = 90, β = 90, γ = 90
Cell volume1032.6 ų, Z = 4
Axial ratios1.0000:1:1.0000calculated from COD 9010105
Source structureCOD 9010105 (American Mineralogist, 2006) — 1 of 47 structures

Powder X-ray diffraction (calculated)

2θ (degrees, Cu Kα1)I/I₀ (max 100)
d (Å)1.7873.0481.9455.8362.9181.316
I/I₀10087.631.622.419.416.6

xrd-v1: CuKa1 1.5406A, 2theta 5-90, top10, Imax=100, no DW/PO. Computed from COD 9010105; idealized occupancies, no preferred orientation.

Physical properties

Density (calculated)4.961 g/cm³calculated from COD 9010105
Hardness (Mohs)
3.5-4single sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892)
Specific gravity
4.541 g/cm3single sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892)
Color
yellowsingle sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892)
Streak
brownsingle sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892)
Luster
metallicsingle sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892)

Classification

Nickel-Strunz (10th)2.BB.15Wikidata (CC0)
Nickel-Strunz (9th)2.BB.15aWikidata (CC0)