Nickeloan pyrite from Prangenhaus quarry, Niederberg area, Germany—A short communication

The mineral chemistry of two nickeloan pyrite samples from the Prangenhaus quarry, Wülfrath, is presented. Sample PRH 5: main zone=4.32-9.7 wt% Ni (0.089-0.202 atoms per formula unit (a.p.f.u.)), 0.21-1.31 wt% Co (0.004-0.027 a.p.f.u.); rim zone=11.76-22.38 wt% Ni (0.244-0.466 a.p.f.u. ), 1.35-8.16 wt% Co (0.028-0.168 a.p.f.u.). Sample PRH 6: 6.75-11.33 wt% Ni (0.139-0.234 a.p.f.u.), 0.86-2.46 wt% Co (0.018-0.051 a.p.f.u.). Estimated Fe/Ni and Fe/Co ratios of the hydrothermal fluids forming the nickeloan pyrite point to very local fluctuations in the chemistry of the ore forming fluids in the Prangenhaus quarry. The presence of nickeloan pyrite indicates formation temperatures below 137 °C, which is in accordance with earlier findings of formation temperatures for sphalerite (60-130 °C) in the Niederberg area.