mineral

Quartz with Pyrite

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Iron Sulfide (FeS2)

Hardness: 7 (Quartz) and 6-6.5 (Pyrite). Color: Clear/Grey host with metallic brassy-yellow flecks. Luster: Vitreous (Quartz) to Metallic (Pyrite). Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal and Cubic.

Hardness: 7 (Quartz) and 6-6
Color: Clear/Grey host with metallic brassy-yellow flecks
Luster: Vitreous (Quartz) to Metallic (Pyrite)

Identified April 12, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 (Quartz) and 6-6.5 (Pyrite). Color: Clear/Grey host with metallic brassy-yellow flecks. Luster: Vitreous (Quartz) to Metallic (Pyrite). Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal and Cubic.

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins through circulating hot, mineral-rich fluids in the earth's crust. It is often found in metamorphic or igneous environments across many geological ages, particularly associated with volcanic activity.

Uses & applications

Quartz is used in electronics (oscillators), glass making, and abrasives. Pyrite is an ore of sulfur and a collector's specimen. Together they are valued for mineral collecting and ornamental decoration.

Geological facts

Pyrite is famously known as 'Fool's Gold' because its color and metallic luster often tricked prospectors. Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust.

Field identification & locations

Identify by scratching glass with the quartz (hardness check) and observing the metallic, cubic structure of the pyrite. Found in mountain ranges, mines, and riverbeds globally. Collectors look for sharp metallic cubes nestled in clear crystal faces.

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