Pyrite: Difference between revisions

 

 

Pyrite is a mineral belonging to the pyrite group.  Pyrite is a very common mineral found in many different formations of rock.  Since pyrite has a similar color to [[gold]], so many in the past have confused it with being gold and now the most common name of pyrite is fool's gold.  Pyrite is easily distinguishable from gold because gold can be scratched with a fingernail, whereas pyrite is much harder and will not be scratched.  Also, pyrite is much lighter than gold.  Pyrite got its name from the Greek word "pyr", which means fire.  The reason pyrite got its name from this Greek word is because when pyrite is stricken against metal it sparks.  Pyrite contains mostly [[Iron]] and [[Sulfur]], but it may contain other elements such as [[cobalt]], [[nickel]], [[lead]], gold, and [[arsenic]], but these other elements are only in small amounts.<ref name=mindat/>

Pyrite occurs very abundately in the earth's crust.  Pyrite occurs in almost every habitat or environment.  This is the reason there are quite a few forms it can be found in.  While pyrite may often be confused for gold, it also may mean gold is near; pyrite is affiliated with the presence of gold.  Of all the sulfide minerals, pyrite is the most common.<ref name=pyrite/>  Pyrite is mined in many places around the world, some of the most notable places pyrite is mined from are Peru, Italy, and Spain.  Pyrite is found in many other places, but these are where most of the pyrite mining takes place. In the United States there are many places pyrite is found, but most of the pyrite is not near the quality of the pyrite found in other places.<ref name=themineralpyrite/>