Pentlandite

Pentlandite is an <a href="/facts/Iron/QK1JYy8E">iron</a>–<a href="/facts/Nickel/KwMCHYRP">nickel</a> sulfide with the chemical formula (<a href="/facts/Iron/QK1JYy8E">Fe</a>,<a href="/facts/Nickel/KwMCHYRP">Ni</a>)9<a href="/facts/Sulfur/IK0amTfM">S</a>8. 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 <a href="/facts/Pyrrhotite/gTgn4Mmf">pyrrhotite</a> <a href="/facts/Inclusion_(mineral)/LtzBvP3p">inclusions</a>. It also contains minor <a href="/facts/Cobalt/gqhScEw4">cobalt</a>, usually at low levels as a fraction of weight.
Pentlandite forms <a href="/facts/Cubic_(crystal_system)/92Co7BKM">isometric</a> crystals, but it is normally found in massive granular <a href="/facts/Aggregate_(geology)/m7KAYtau">aggregates</a>. It is brittle with a <a href="/facts/Mohs_scale_of_mineral_hardness/wXBMcVIm">hardness</a> of 3.5–4 and <a href="/facts/Specific_gravity/ySquGd2x">specific gravity</a> of 4.6–5.0 and is non-magnetic. It has a yellowish bronze color and a metallic <a href="/facts/Lustre_(mineralogy)/TCobwMGC">luster</a>.
Pentlandite is found in abundance within <a href="/facts/Ultramafic_rock/7qAapP1d">ultramafic</a> rocks, making it one of the most important sources of mined nickel. It also occasionally occurs within mantle <a href="/facts/Xenolith/nP1MlHvG">xenoliths</a> and "black smoker" <a href="/facts/Hydrothermal_vent/0xPqNUkY">hydrothermal vents</a>.

Pentlandite open-in-new

Pentlandite