Pyrrohotite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Pyrrhotite
By Didier Descouens (Own work) [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons

An overview on Pyrrhotite Jewelry and Gemstones. Covers details and essential information on the physical properties and characteristics of Pyrrhotite gems.

Pyrrohotite Value

The International Gem Society (IGS) has a list of businesses offering gemstone appraisal services.

Pyrrohotite Information

DataValue
NamePyrrohotite
Crystallography Hexagonal; also orthorhombic, monoclinic, depending on stoichiometry. Crystals tabular, platy, pyramidal, sometimes in clusters (rosettes); usually massive or granular.
Colors Bronze-yellow to bronze-red or brownish; tarnishes readily, becomes iridescent.
Luster Metallic; opaque.
Fracture Fracture subconchoidal to uneven; brittle. Sometimes basal parting observed.
Hardness 3.5-4.5.
Specific Gravity 4.58-4.65.
Cleavage None.
Stone SizesCabochons of almost any size could be cut from the massive material. Such stones are always opaque and metallic and can be attractive.
FormulaFe1-xS.

Streak: grayish black.

Other Tests: Magnetic, varying in intensity, lost on heating. Decomposed by HCl.

Occurrence: Associated with pyrite and other sulfides throughout the world, often as a magmatic segregation in basic igneous rocks. Occasionally in pegmatites and contact metamorphic rocks, fumaroles, and basalts. Also occurs in meteorites.

Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.

Morro Velho, Brazil.

Rumania; Italy; Germany; Norway; Sweden.

Potosi Mine, Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua, Mexico.

Pennsylvania; Tennessee; New York; Maine; Connecticut.

Name: From a Greek word meaning reddish.