Pyrite framboids and their development: a new conceptual mechanism
It has been suggested that the two morphologies of sedimentary pyrite, framboids and euhedra, may reflect two distinct pathways of pyrite formation. Framboids form indirectly via iron monosulphides, whereas euhedra form from direct precipitation from solution. A third pathway which is bridging these two forms is proposed here, namely the continuous growth from a monosulphide globule through framboids to a euhedral single crystal. It is also suggested that framboids probably occur over a range of three orders of magnitude, from the least complex microframboids through framboids to polyframboids.