A Geoscience Digital Image Library
A Geoscience Digital Image Library
| Title | Marcasite |
|---|---|
| Description | Marcasite, FeS2, is a polymorph of pyrite. That means it has the same composition but a different atomic arrangement. Pyrite is more common, and distinguishing the two minerals can be difficult or impossible without X-ray analysis. One feature that helps identify marcasite is a “cock's comb” habit. The feather shaped crystal shown here exhibits such a habit, but the other specimens are made of multiple small crystals and do not. The feathery crystal shown is about 1.5 cm across. |
| Location | USA ▹ North Dakota. Near Beulah. |
| Photographer | Darla Sondrol. 2001-07-09. |
| Collection | University of North Dakota Mineralogy Collection #235. |
| Key words | marcasite, North Dakota |
| Tech details | 324 KB. Hand specimen. Fujifilm FinePix S1Pro digital camera; 60mm AF Nikon micro lens. |
| GeoDIL number | 1047 |
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