What is Molybdenite?


Molybdenite is a rare mineral composed of molybdenum and sulfur, with a chemical composition of MoS2. It occurs in igneous and metamorphic rocks as gray hexagonal crystals and foliated masses with a metallic luster. Molybdenite is the most important ore of molybdenum and often contains minor amounts of rhenium which are often produced as a byproduct.

Molybdenite
Molybdenite (gray) and quartz (white) in a specimen collected from the Henderson Mine near Empire, CO.

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