mineral

Pyrite

Iron Sulfide (FeS2)

Hardness: 6-6.5 on Mohs scale. Color: Pale brass-yellow. Luster: Metallic. Crystal Structure: Isometric (often cubic or pyritohedral). Cleavage: Indistinct. Specific Gravity: 4.9-5.2.

Hardness: 6-6
Color: Pale brass-yellow
Luster: Metallic

Identified May 3, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 6-6.5 on Mohs scale. Color: Pale brass-yellow. Luster: Metallic. Crystal Structure: Isometric (often cubic or pyritohedral). Cleavage: Indistinct. Specific Gravity: 4.9-5.2.

Formation & geological history

Formed in a variety of geological settings including hydrothermal veins, as a magmatic segregation mineral, in metamorphic rocks, and as a replacement mineral in fossils and sedimentary rocks via sulfate-reducing bacteria.

Uses & applications

Historically a source of sulfur and sulfuric acid. Today it is primarily used as a decorative specimen, in costume jewelry (marcasite), and as an ore of iron (though rarely due to difficulty removing sulfur).

Geological facts

Commonly known as "Fool's Gold" because it is often mistaken for real gold due to its metallic luster and yellow hue. However, pyrite is harder and more brittle than gold and leaves a black or greenish-black streak when rubbed on a streak plate.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (cannot be scratched by a copper penny) and its brittle nature; gold is malleable. Found globally, with notable deposits in Peru, Spain, and the United States. Collectors look for sharp, well-defined cubic crystals.