Pentlandite is a mineral of segregation-magmatic origin, rarely forming crystals. Occurs in deposits of sulfide copper-nickel ores. Petlandite ores are the main source of nickel production. The chemical composition of this mineral is variable, characterized by strong fluctuations in the nickel content.
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General | |
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Category | Sulfide mineral |
Formula (repeating unit) |
iron nickel sulfide: (Fe,Ni)9S8 |
IMA symbol | Pn |
Strunz classification | 2.BB.15a |
Crystal system | Isometric |
Crystal class | Hexoctahedral (m3m) H-M symbol: (4/m 3 2/m) |
Space group | Fm3m |
Identification | |
Color | Yellowish bronze |
Crystal habit | Hexoctahedral rare; massive to granular |
Cleavage | absent – octahedral parting |
Fracture | Conchoidal |
Mohs scale hardness | 3.5–4 |
Luster | metallic |
Streak | light bronze-brown greenish black |
Specific gravity | 4.6–5.0 |
Refractive index | opaque |
Fusibility | 1.5–2 |
Other characteristics | becomes magnetic on heating |