Detailed sheet

marcasite

Identified in 1845 by von Raidinger, it was found being different from pyrite by René-Just Haüy in the early nineteenth century.
Its name comes from either the Arabic or Moorish to signify that it has a metallic color yellow.
This is an iron sulphide containing more sulfur than pyrite with which it is often confused. The excess of sulfur results in the form of sulfuric acid on contact with air, and ancient samples are often disintegrated. It forms in narrow environments and it is often found in fossils.



CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS

FeS2

iron sulfite



PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Main color

yellow

Other colors

brown, green

hints of green due to oxidation

Color of streak

grey, black, green

Luster

metallic

Hardness

6.0 to 6.5

Density

4.85 to 4.95

Cleavage

indistinct

Fracture

uneven

very pale yellow, almost white on the fresh cleavage



OPTICAL PROPERTIES

Transparency

opaque

Refractive index

0.000 - 0.000

Double refraction

0.000

refractive index and birefringence illegibles

visible double refraction

No

Pleochroism

strong

Number of colors

3

turning from practically white to yellow and brown according to light

Fluorescence

none



CRYSTALS PROPERTIES

it comes in many forms : tabular crystals, prismatic, spherical aggregates radial aggregates ...

crystals system

orthorhombic



OTHER INFORMATIONS

Astrological sign

Sagittarius, Scorpio

Exploited
sites

It is found in sedimentary deposits in carbonate rocks, but this is not an exploitable iron ore such as pyrite is. In France some groups of crystals come from Cap Blanc-Nez in the Pas de Calais, it is also found in radiating nodules in Champagne and Picardy: these metallic nodules have often been mistaken with meteorites! It is also found in Germany,Czech Republique, United States, Canada …

use in jewelry

What is called “marcasite” on antique jewelry is actually pyrite, because marcasite is not stable at air contact. The pyrite roses have been widely used in the nineteenth century and are still on many jewels coming from the Middle East or Central Asia.

Historical
healing properties

It is considered as a powerful stone, in relation to the base chakra, its properties are similar to those of pyrite.
In relation to the solar plexus chakra it would optimize the flow of energies by promoting their proper orientation, towards the positive . Its radiating spherical forms favor the calming radiation of the individual diffusing soothing purity and serenity.
Since long time it has been associated with anemia because of its composition rich in iron, and from the Middle Ages it was advised for pregnant women.

Other
Gems

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