Pyrrhotine (Noun)
Meaning
A brownish iron sulfide mineral (FeS) having weak magnetic properties.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- Pyrrhotine is typically found in igneous and metamorphic rocks, often in association with other sulfide minerals.
- The geologist carefully extracted a sample of pyrrhotine from the rock face, noting its distinctive brassy color.
- Pyrrhotine is an important ore of iron, but its weak magnetic properties make it less desirable than other iron-bearing minerals.
- The mineralogist used a magnet to separate the pyrrhotine from other sulfides, taking advantage of its slightly magnetic properties.
- Pyrrhotine is often mistaken for troilite, a non-magnetic iron sulfide mineral, due to their similar appearances.