How do I identify Greigite?

Greigite can be identified by its hardness of 4 - 4.5 on the Mohs scale, metallic pinkish color. Look for these key characteristics when examining specimens.

What color is Greigite?

Greigite typically appears in metallic pinkish, tarnishing to a metallic blue, sooty black when amorphous. Color can vary depending on impurities and formation conditions.

How hard is Greigite?

Greigite has a hardness of 4 - 4.5 on the Mohs scale. This gives it moderate hardness.

Greigite

A variety of Minerals

What is Greigite?

Greigite is an iron sulfide mineral with the chemical formula Fe2+Fe3+2S4. It is the sulfur equivalent of the iron oxide magnetite (Fe3O4). It was first described in 1964 for an occurrence in San Bernardino County, California, and named after the mineralogist and physical chemist Joseph W. Greig (1895–1977).

Greigite Market Value Calculator

Estimate the market value of Greigite using size, quality, and finish. This preview calculator is for quick context and is not a formal appraisal.

Greigite Localities Map

See where Greigite is found with a localities map, collecting zones, and geology context. Generate a sample map preview below.

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North ZoneCentral RidgeSouth Basin

Key Characteristics

Composition of Greigite

Greigite has the spinel structure. The crystallographic unit cell is cubic, with space group Fd3m. The S anions form a cubic close-packed lattice, and the Fe cations occupy both tetrahedral and octahedral sites.

Quick Facts

Physical Properties

Color: metallic pinkish, tarnishing to a metallic blue, sooty black when amorphous
Hardness (Mohs): 4 - 4.5
Density: 4.079 g/cm³
Streak: black