molybdenite
Sign in to saveMolybdenite is a mineral of molybdenum disulfide, MoS2. Similar in appearance and feel to graphite, molybdenite has a lubricating effect that is a consequence of its layered structure. The atomic structure consists of a sheet of molybdenum atoms sandwiched between sheets of sulfur atoms. The Mo-S bonds are strong, but the interaction between the sulfur atoms at the top and bottom of separate sandwich-like tri-layers is weak, resulting in easy slippage as well as cleavage planes. Molybdenite crystallizes in the hexagonal crystal system as the common polytype 2H and also in the trigonal system a
Key facts
- Mineral.name
- Molybdenite
- Mineral.category
- Sulfide mineral
- Mineral.image
- Molybdenite quebec2.jpg
- Mineral.imagesize
- 260px
- Mineral.caption
- Euhedral molybdenite on quartz, Molly Hill mine, Quebec, Canada. The large crystal is 15 mm across
- Mineral.formula
- Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2)
- Mineral.IMAsymbol
- Mol
- Mineral.strunz
- 2.EA.30
- Mineral.system
- Common, 2H polytype: hexagonal 3R polytype: trigonal
- Mineral.class
- 2H polytype: dihexagonal dipyramidal (6/mmm) 3R polytype: Ditrigonal pyramidal (3m)
- Mineral.symmetry
- 2H polytype: P63/mmc 3R polytype: R3m
- Mineral.unit cell
- 2H polytype: a = 3.16 Å, c = 12.3 Å; Z = 2 3R polytype: a = 3.16 Å, c = 18.33 Å; Z = 3
- Mineral.color
- Black, lead-silvery gray
- Mineral.habit
- Thin, platy hexagonal crystals terminated by pinacoidal faces, also as tapering six-sided pyramids that can be truncated by the pinacoids. Also massive, lamellar and in small grains in sulfide ore bodies
- Mineral.cleavage
- Perfect on [0001]
- Mineral.tenacity
- Lamellae flexible, not elastic
- Mineral.mohs
- 1–1.5
- Mineral.luster
- Metallic
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
8 sectionsContents
- Description
- Occurrence
- Features
- Uses
- Semiconductor
- See also
- References
- External links
Molybdenite is a mineral of molybdenum disulfide, MoS2. Similar in appearance and feel to graphite, molybdenite has a lubricating effect that is a consequence of its layered structure. The atomic structure consists of a sheet of molybdenum atoms sandwiched between sheets of sulfur atoms. The Mo-S bonds are strong, but the interaction between the sulfur atoms at the top and bottom of separate sandwich-like tri-layers is weak, resulting in easy slippage as well as cleavage planes. Molybdenite crystallizes in the hexagonal crystal system as the common polytype 2H and also in the trigonal system as the 3R polytype.
==Description== ===Occurrence=== thumb|A less pure sample of molybdenite mineral Molybdenite occurs in high temperature hydrothermal ore deposits. Its associated minerals include pyrite, chalcopyrite, quartz, anhydrite, fluorite, and scheelite. Important deposits include the disseminated porphyry molybdenum deposits at Questa, New Mexico and the Henderson and Climax mines in Colorado. Molybdenite also occurs in porphyry copper deposits of Arizona, Utah, and Mexico.