Mineral - Molybdenite
Molybdenite
Chemical Properties
Mineral Class
Sulfides and sulfosalts
Toxicity
none
Formula
MoS₂
Unit Cell
a=3.16 c=12.30 Z=2
Physical Properties
Hardness
1 - 1.5
Streak
gray
Density
Heavy (3,5-6)
Cleavage
Perfect after {0001}
Fracture
hooked
Tenacity
Elastic-flexible
Optical Properties
Color
blackgray
Birefringence
Luster
Metallic
Transparency
opaque
Pleochroism
Geomineralogical Properties
Crystal System
trigonal , hexagonal
Point Group
ditrigonal-pyramidal - 3m , dihexagonal-dipyramidal - 6/m 2/m 2/m
Space Group
R3m (160) , P6 3 /mmc (194)
Habit
leafy, tabular
Formation
(1) Magmatic-hydrothermal, through fractional crystallization in granitic intrusions and precipitation from fluid-rich phases in porphyry deposits, pegmatites, and skarns.
(2) Metamorphic, through the mobilization and recrystallization of pre-existing molybdenum concentrations under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions.
Paragenesis
Twinning
Rarity
Rather rare
Synonyms
Molybdenite
Groups and Members
Molybdenite-Group