Smythite (original) (raw)

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered

About SmythiteHide

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Formula:

(Fe,Ni)3+xS4 (x=0-0.3)

Colour:

brownish black, bronze-yellow

Name:

Named by Richard C. Erd, Howard T. Evans, Jr., and Donald H. Richter in 1957 in honor of Charles Henry Smyth, Jr. (31 March 1866, Oswego, New York, USA - 4 April 1937, Princeton, New Jersey, USA), Professor of Economic Geology, Princeton University, New Jersey, USA.

Unique IdentifiersHide

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Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:3691:3

9d7c0356-bae4-4df4-82b8-ebbb6d028d59

IMA Classification of SmythiteHide

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Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)

IMA Formula:

(Fe,Ni)3+xS4 (x ≈ 0-0.3)

Type description reference:

Classification of SmythiteHide

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2.CC.10

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
C : With Ni, Fe, Co, PGE, etc.

2.8.10.2

2 : SULFIDES
8 : AmXp, with m:p = 1:1

3.9.7

3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
9 : Sulphides etc. of Fe

Mineral SymbolsHide

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As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Physical Properties of SmythiteHide

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Colour:

Brownish black, bronze-yellow

Comment:

Black with tinge of brown against a white surface; bronze yellow reflections from {0001}

Comment:

Flexible and elastic in thin lamellae

Density:

4.32 g/cm3 (Measured) 4.32 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Comment:

Taylor and Williams (1972) in their redefinition of Smythite say both measured and calculated densities are ~4.32, replacing the older value of 4.06

Optical Data of SmythiteHide

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Anisotropism:

Strong with yellow and blue-grey interference colors

Comments:

Greyish yellow to reddish brown

Comments:

Tends to be free of inclusions or intergrowths; strongly resembles pyrrhotite

Chemistry of SmythiteHide

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Mindat Formula:

(Fe,Ni)3+xS4 (x=0-0.3)

Crystallography of SmythiteHide

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Class (H-M):

3_m_ _(_32/m ) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral

Cell Parameters:

a = 3.465 Å, c = 34.34 Å

Unit Cell V:

357.06 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

Thin pseudohexagonal plates [0001] and "a rhombohedron". Crystals are so thin at the type locality than the prism was not observed. Twinning common producing warped hexagonal plates. Impossible to visually distinguish at the type locality, and nearby locations, from pyrrhotite with which it is constantly associated (Erd et al., 1957).

Comment:

Also given as 3.47, 34.50 A. Z=1 (ICDD 25-1182)

Crystal StructureHide

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ID	Species	Reference	Link	Year	Locality	Pressure (GPa)	Temp (K)
0000080	Smythite	Erd R C, Evans H T, Richter D H (1957) Smythite, a new iron sulfide, and associated pyrrhotite from Indiana American Mineralogist 42 309-333		1957	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

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Powder Diffraction Data:

Geological EnvironmentHide

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Type Occurrence of SmythiteHide

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General Appearance of Type Material:

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

1. Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 106149.
2. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 112704.

Geological Setting of Type Material:

Inclusions in calcite crystals in quartz geodes in limestone.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Reference:

Erd, R.C., Evans, H.T. (1956) The compound Fe3S4 (smythite) found in nature. Journal of the American Chemical Society: 78: 2017-2017.

Other Language Names for SmythiteHide

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Relationship of Smythite to other SpeciesHide

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Other Members of this group:

Common AssociatesHide

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Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

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Fluorescence of SmythiteHide

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Other InformationHide

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Thermal Behaviour:

Heating at 400° C changed smythite to pyrrhotite in 18 hours; at lower temperature (290° C) smythite was a mixture of smythite + pyrrhotite in the same time.

Notes:

Strongly ferromagnetic

Special Storage/
Display Requirements:

Easily rusts/oxidises to goethite when exposed to water or moist air although pyrrhotite tarnished and pitted sooner than smythite; crystals in calcite tend to be unoxidised and stable.

Health Risks:

No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for SmythiteHide

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References for SmythiteHide

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Localities for SmythiteHide

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This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

Locality ListHide

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- This locality has map coordinates listed. - This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. - Good crystals or important locality for species. - World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.