Mackinawite

Mackinawite ( MAK-i-naw-eyet) is an iron sulfide mineral, which can contain nickel substituting for iron(II), with as chemical formula (Fe,Ni)1+xS (where x = 0 to 0.11). As indicated by its chemical composition, Fe(1+×), Fe is present with an excess of × over S, and it is thus an iron-rich, or a sulfur-deficient, iron monosulfide mineral. The mineral crystallizes in the tetragonal crystal system and has been described as a distorted, close packed, cubic array of S atoms with some of the gaps filled with Fe. Mackinawite occurs as opaque bronze to grey-white tabular crystals and anhedral masses. It has a Mohs hardness of 2.5 and a specific gravity of 4.17. It was first described in 1962 for an occurrence in the Mackinaw mine, Snohomish County, Washington for which it was named.