The crystal structure of gersdorffite (III), a distorted and disordered pyrite structure

Abstract

SummaryThe crystal structure of gersdorffite (III) has been examined with three-dimensional Weissenberg X-ray diffraction data. The unit cell is isometric with a 5·6849 ± 0·0003 Å, space group PI, and four formula units per cell. This structure has the sulphur and arsenic atoms equally distributed over the non-metal atom sites of pyrite. All atoms show significant random displacements from the ideal pyrite positions to produce triclinic symmetry, which serves to distinguish this mineral from a disordered cubic gersdorffite (II) and a partially ordered cubic gersdorffite (I). Factors responsible for the atomic distortions are discussed.