Magnetic properties of iron marcasite FeS2

The magnetic susceptibility, χ, of a natural single crystal of marcasite, FeS₂, has been measured between 300K down to 4K. At room temperature χ=0.3×10^?5 emu/g and it is temperature independent down to 10K. Below 10K it increases up to 1.3×10^?5 emu/g. It is concluded that iron in marcasite is in the Fe²⁺ low spin state, and that the 6d electrons occupy the t_2g ground state. Consequently iron in marcasite (FeS₂) is not magnetic in agreement with our Mössbauer spectra recorded at 4.2K in an external magnetic field up to 39.9 kOe. The small value of χ is explained in terms of contributions from ppm impurities. i.e., diamagnetism and Van Vleck paramagnetism.