Abstract
Abstract. A new occurrence of pyrite crystals with rhombohedral habit, up to several centimeters in length, is described from the Madan Pb–Zn ore field (Rhodope Massif, south Bulgaria), where it constitutes a late pyrite generation. As observed in the past in other deposits, the ideal rhombohedron is derived from the pyritohedron by suppression of half of its faces (six “polar faces”) around a ternary axis. In studied crystals, together with six main “equatorial faces”, additional minor faces correspond to cube faces as well as polar faces. Such a dissymmetry indicates that the crystallographic point group of these crystals is 3‾, a subgroup of the eigensymmetry 3‾2/m of a rhombohedron taken as geometric face form. Twinning by metric merohedry confirms such a symmetry decrease and permits the definition of this type of pyrite as a dimorph of cubic pyrite, i.e., pseudo-cubic trigonal pyrite (pyrite-R). Twin operations belong to the set of symmetry operations absent in point group 3‾ relative to pyrite symmetry m3‾: reflection about the {100} plane or two-fold rotation about the <100> direction. Four twin types have been distinguished (name, chromatic point group): three contact twins (reflection, m′; rotation, 2′; trapezoidal, (m(2)m(2)2(2))(4)), as well as one penetration twin (crossed, 2′/m′). Composition planes always correspond to {100}, but there are two types of twin interfaces. More complex twinned samples may develop erratically during crystal growth. Other twin variations as well as genetic aspects of such a type of pyrite are discussed.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.