XMCD at Fe L2,3 edges, fe and SK edges on Fe7S8

Pyrrhotite (Fe7S8) is a natural iron sulphide that can participate in rock magnetisation. Its electronic structure is not yet surely described. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) at Fe L-2,L-3 edges on Fe7S8, coupled with multiplet calculations, shows that iron is present only as Fe2+ in this magnetic iron sulphide. It reveals a strong magnetic orbital moment. XMCD at Fe and S K edges shows the quite strong polarization of both Fe and S in Fe7S8.