Fe3S4
greigite · cubic iron sulfide
Fe3S4 is a metallic, magnetic iron sulfide mineral that typically forms in anaerobic sedimentary environments.
About greigite
Fe3S4 is a metallic iron sulfide that exists in a cubic crystal structure. It is a naturally occurring mineral often associated with microbial activity in sedimentary environments, where it serves as a significant magnetic phase.
Due to its position relative to the thermodynamic ground state, this compound is considered metastable. Its electronic character is defined by metallic conductivity, distinguishing it from many other common insulating or semiconducting iron sulfides found in nature.
Key Properties
Cross-validated computational properties for greigite, aggregated across 5 databases.
Band GapEnergy needed to move an electron from the valence band to the conduction band. Lower or zero values tend to behave more metallic; larger gaps are more insulating or semiconducting.
Energy Above HullThermodynamic distance from the most stable set of competing phases. 0 eV/atom is on the convex hull; small positive values may still be experimentally accessible.
StabilityA plain-language summary of the best reported energy-above-hull result. It reflects whether the lowest-energy structure is on, near, or far from the stability hull.
StructuresCount of reported calculated crystal structures for this formula, including alternate polymorphs, source databases, and observed space groups.
Applications
Where greigite is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about greigite, answered from cross-validated data.
What is Fe3S4?
Fe3S4 is a metallic, magnetic iron sulfide mineral that typically forms in anaerobic sedimentary environments.
What is Fe3S4 used for?
What is the band gap of Fe3S4?
Is Fe3S4 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Is Fe3S4 thermodynamically stable?
How many polymorphs of Fe3S4 are known?
What elements does Fe3S4 contain?
Where does the data for Fe3S4 come from?
How It Compares
As a unique iron-sulfur phase, Fe3S4 functions as a critical magnetic component in geological and biological contexts. Unlike more stable iron sulfides, its metastable nature makes it a transient but vital indicator of specific geochemical conditions during mineral formation.
Data sources & attribution
- latticegraph — Lattice Graph Materials Intelligence Platform
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