Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letters to Editor
  • Published:

Evidence for the Geological Occurrence of Molybdenum Trisulphide

Nature Physical Science volume 234, pages 177–178 (1971)Cite this article

Abstract

OF the three molybdenum sulphides which have been characterized in synthetic studies1, only the disulphide has been confirmed in nature, occurring as the common mineral molybdenite in hexagonal (2H1) and rhombohedral (3R) polytypic forms. Grover and Moh's2 inferred occurrence of the high-temperature sesquisulphide is surely inadequately substantiated, and no reports of the presence in ores of the X-ray amorphous trisulphide have been presented. The occurrence of this compound, first prepared by Berzelius3 and recently investigated in detail by Rode and Lebedev4, is strongly indicated by analytical studies of a specimen of oxidized ore from the Potrerillos porphyry copper deposit5, northern Chile (lat. 26° 29′ S; long. 69° 26′ W).

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Jellinek, F., Ark. Kemi, 20, 447 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Grover, B., and Moh, G. H., Neues Jahrb. Min. Monats., 10, 529 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Berzelius, J. J., Pogg. Ann., 7, 261 (1826).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Rode, E. Ya., and Lebedev, B. A., Russ. J. Inorg. Chem., 6, 608 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  5. March, W. S., jun., in Copper Resources of the World, Sixteenth Intern. Geol. Congr. Wash., 485 (1935).

  6. Sillitoe, R. H., thesis, Univ. London (1969).

  7. Clark, A. H., and Sillitoe, R. H., Neues Jahrb. Min. Monats., 10, 499 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Clark, A. H., and Sillitoe, R. H., Amer. Mineral., 55, 2114 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Clark, A. H., Amer. Mineral., 56, 1832 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Titley, S. R., Trans. Amer. Inst. Min. Eng., 226, 199 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hansuld, J. A., Min. Eng. (December 1966).

  12. Carpenter, R. H., in Ore Deposits of the United States, 1933–1967 (Graton-Sales Vol.) (edit, by Ridge, J. P.), 1328 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario

    ALAN H. CLARK

Authors
  1. ALAN H. CLARK
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

CLARK, A. Evidence for the Geological Occurrence of Molybdenum Trisulphide. Nature Physical Science 234, 177–178 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/physci234177a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/physci234177a0

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing