mineral
Pyrite
Iron Sulfide (FeS2)
Hardness: 6-6.5 on the Mohs scale, Color: Pale brass-yellow, Luster: Metallic, Crystal System: Isometric, Cleavage: Indistinct, Specific Gravity: 4.8-5.0
- Hardness
- 6-6
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-6.5 on the Mohs scale, Color: Pale brass-yellow, Luster: Metallic, Crystal System: Isometric, Cleavage: Indistinct, Specific Gravity: 4.8-5.0
Formation & geological history
Forms in a wide variety of geological environments, including hydrothermal veins, sedimentary rocks, and metamorphic rocks, often precipitated from aqueous solutions.
Uses & applications
Used historically for striking fire, manufacturing sulfur and sulfuric acid, and popularly collected as a mineral specimen.
Geological facts
Commonly known as 'Fool's Gold' due to its superficial resemblance to gold, pyrite frequently forms striking cubic or octahedral crystals and botryoidal aggregates.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its brass-yellow color, high hardness (scratches glass), metallic luster, and dark streak. Found worldwide, particularly in Peru, Spain, and the USA.
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