Pyrite

  • What is it and where is it formed?  Pyrite is an iron ore that is called “Fool’s gold” because it looks so much like gold.  Many Old West miners were ‘fooled’ into thinking they were rich when they found it.   Pyrite is found in sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rock areas.

  • How and where is it mined?  Pyrite is mined with underground mining.  It can be dangerous to mine pyrite.  If it combines with oxygen and water, it becomes sulfuric acid, and sinks into the ground.  Then it travels into aquifers, rivers, and streams and kills everything in it.  After they get the pyrite ore out of the ground, it is heated.  This takes the iron and sulfur out of it.  It is mined all over the world.  The most pyrite comes from the United States, Italy, Russia, Sweden, and Peru.

  • What is it used for?  Pyrite is used for car batteries, appliances, food cans, paper, tools, some jewelry, and machinery.

  • Interesting information:

    • During World War II, pyrite was mined for the sulfur that is in it.  Sulfuric acid was made with  the sulfur.

Pyrite

 Pyrite
Pyrite
Mineral Characteristic What the
mineralogists say		 Kid's Guide:  What it REALLY means!
Chemical Symbol FeS2

It has sulfur and iron in it.
Color Pale to bright yellow Pyrite can be any shade of yellow.
Streak Greenish black If it is crushed, its dust would be a black with a dark greenish tint to it.
Transparency Opaque You can’t see through it.
Luster Metallic It is very shiny and reflects light.
Cleavage None If it is broken, it won’t break evenly.
Fracture Conchoidal If it is shattered, the pieces will be smooth.
Magnetism Sometimes It is magnetic after it is heated.
Hardness 6 – 6.5 It is above average in hardness and can be scratched by a steel file.  Even though it’s hard, it is easy to break.
Specific gravity 5 It is above average in weight.
Crystal Shape Cubic

Cubic crystal