metamorphic

Pyrite-bearing rock, likely schist or quartzite

Pyrite (FeS₂) in a foliated silicate matrix, possibly mica schist

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Brassy yellow metallic grains and patches suggest pyrite, with darker gray-green matrix and possible foliation. Pyrite has Mohs hardness 6–6.5, metallic luster, cubic crystals, and high density (about 5.0 g/cm³); the matrix appears less lustrous and softer.

Identified September 3, 2026More metamorphic →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Likely formed when sulfide-bearing fluids or sediments were metamorphosed, concentrating pyrite in a mica-rich or quartz-rich host. Precise age and rock identity cannot be determined from the photograph alone.

Uses & applications

Pyrite is mined for sulfur and historically for iron, while pyrite-bearing schist is mainly a collector specimen; it has little construction or jewelry value because it can tarnish and weather.

Geological facts

Pyrite is commonly called “fool’s gold,” but it is harder, more brittle, and typically paler and less malleable than native gold. Exposure to moisture and oxygen can produce acidic runoff and iron-sulfate alteration.

Field identification & locations

Look for metallic brassy grains, black streak, brittle fracture, and cubic or granular forms; gold leaves a yellow streak and is malleable. Common occurrences include hydrothermal veins, shale, coal beds, and metamorphic belts worldwide.