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PUBLICATIONS

Pyrrhotite Reference Material Synthesis

Published

Author(s)

Michael Mengason, Stephanie Watson

Abstract

The mineral pyrrhotite was synthesized from iron and sulfur starting materials for one component in a four-component reference material (RM 8154-Pyrrhotite in Concrete) to be used to evaluate the presence of sulfur in aggregate (crushed rock) and concrete. Pyrrhotite in aggregate used in concrete has and continues to result in the degradation and failure of residential foundations around Tolland County, CT (Northeastern Connecticut and South-Central Massachusetts). A total of 254 bottles of 5 grams were produced. This Pyrrhotite in Concrete suite reference material will fill a current void in available testing materials and will allow laboratories to advance and unify methods of analysis. Scaling up production of the pyrrhotite component revealed considerations in design and safety ultimately incorporated.
Citation
Technical Note (NIST TN) - 2336
Report Number
2336
NIST Pub Series
Technical Note (NIST TN)
Pub Type
NIST Pubs

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.2336
Local Download

Keywords

Pyrrhotite, Synthesis, Aggregate, Concrete, Tolland, Becker’s Quarry
Infrastructure

Citation

Mengason, M. and Watson, S. (2025), Pyrrhotite Reference Material Synthesis, Technical Note (NIST TN), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.2336, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=958963 (Accessed October 14, 2025)

Issues

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Created April 4, 2025
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