Properties of Marcasite

Marcasite, as a mineral, is a form of iron sulfide with the chemical formula (FeS2). It shares a similar composition with pyrite but has a different crystal structure. Marcasite crystallizes in the orthorhombic system and often forms small, brassy-yellow, metallic-looking crystals.

Image of marcasite mineral
Credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com - CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The following table provides a comprehensive list of marcasite properties in both SI and US customary/Imperial units at normal temperature and pressure (NTP).

Note: click on the icon to switch between Metric and Imperial units.

Table of Marcasite Properties
Physical Properties
Metric
Chemical FormulaFeS2
Molar Mass119.979 g/mol
Crystal SystemOrthorhombic
Mohs Hardness6 - 6.5
Density4900 kg/m3
ColorWhite green
DiaphaneityOpaque
LusterMetallic
Cleavage{101}
FractureConchoidal
StreakBlack

Note: unless stated otherwise, all values are taken at room temperature (approximately 20°C or 68°F) and 1 atm pressure. (1 atm = 101,325 Pa)

Related Pages
References: 1) Cardarelli, François. Materials Handbook: A Concise Desktop Reference. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2018. 2) CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 97th Edition. United Kingdom: CRC Press, 2016-2017.