iron sulfide

noun

: any of several sulfides of iron

Examples of iron sulfide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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These spots are concentric reaction fronts – places where chemical and physical reactions occur – enriched in the minerals vivianite, which contains iron phosphate, and greigite, which is made of iron sulfide. Amy J. Williams, The Conversation, 12 Sep. 2025 The features are likely due to the presence of ferrous iron phosphate and iron sulfide, or the minerals vivianite and greigite, according to the researchers. Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025 Perseverance’s measurements suggested the speckles contained the minerals vivianite, an iron phosphate, and greigite, an iron sulfide—and that both formed in close association with organic carbon. Humberto Basilio, Scientific American, 9 Sep. 2025 Dust that has been detected already includes grains of olivine and iron sulfide. Keith Cooper, Space.com, 19 May 2025 Most copper, however, comes from chalcopyrite, a very common copper iron sulfide. David Bressan, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024 The bronze mineral remains less prevalent than pyrite, a fellow iron sulfide known as fool’s gold. The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 31 Dec. 2024 Hot springs, which are heated by volcanic activity beneath the Earth's surface, are rich in minerals, including iron sulfides. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2024 When iron is also present, the hydrogen sulfide reacts with iron to form pyrite, which is iron sulfide. Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of iron sulfide was in 1861

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Cite this Entry

“Iron sulfide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/iron%20sulfide. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

iron sulfide

noun
: a compound (as a pyrite) of iron and sulfur
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