Mineralpedia Details for Pyrite
Pyrite
Named for the Greek word for “fire,” pyr, as sparks can be produced from striking it. Pyrite is the most widespread and abundant sulfide in the world and van be found in tens of thousands of localities with large and/or fine crystal being produced from Italy on Elba and at Piedmont, in Spain, Kazakhstan, in the United States from Colorado, Illinois, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Montana, Washington, and Missouri, and also in Peru. Pyrite forms in hydrothermal veins, in magmatic segregations, as an accessory mineral, in pegmatites, contact metamorphosed deposits and metamorphic rocks, and in sedimentary rocks as a diagenetic replacement mineral. Pyrite is paramagnetic, magnetic in the presence of applied magnetic fields, and can be used as a semiconductor.
Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/pyrite.pdf
- Formula
- FeS2
- Crystal System
- Isometric
- Crystal Habit
- Striated, Druse, Stalactitic
- Cleavage
- Poor, Poor, None
- Luster
- Metallic
- Color
- pale brass yellow
- Streak
- greenish black
- Class
- Isometric - Diploidal
- Fracture
- Conchoidal
- Hardness
- 6.5
- WebMineral
- View Pyrite
- Mindat
- View Pyrite
Pyrite from Nanisivik mine, Baffin Island, Nunavut Territory, Canada
Pyrite with striated cubes to 1.5cm.
Great example of modified cubic Pyrite crystal to 1cm on Pyrite matrix.
Pyrite from Buick mine, Reynolds Co., Missouri, United States
Brassy cubic crystals in aggregates resembling balls to 5mm in a large pocket on white Dolomite.
Pyrite from Butte dist., Silver Bow Co., Montana, United States
- Special Info
- Phillips Collection
Superb specimen with brassy golden Pyritohedrons to 5mm laced nicely with stacks of thin platy, pseudo-hexagonal, twinned crystals of Chalcocite crystals to 2mm across. There are also some creamy colored unknown crystals in thin platy rosettes. The last photo shows the Dickite.
Pyrite from Thomaston Dam RR cut, Litchfield Co., Connecticut, United States
A locality specimen with tiny Pyrite crystal, one in particular showing elongated cubic development into a rod. Other minerals in the matrix include purple and blue Fluorite and Galena.
Pyrite from Orman Dam, Belle Fourche, Butte Co., South Dakota, United States
Coppery colored clustered Pyrite crystals.
Pyrite from C. E. Duff & Son quarry, Huntsville, Logan Co., Ohio, United States
Hundreds of complex Pyrite crystals from 1 to 4mm lining limestone vug.
Pyrite from Casapalca, Lima Dept., Peru
Large pyritohedron to 2cm with micro white Calcite and deep red sphalerite.
Pyrite from Julcani mine, Julcani dist., Huancavelica dept., Peru
Botryoidal Pyrite with balls to 5mm.
Pyrite from West Fork mine, Reynolds Co., Missouri, United States
A single Galena crystal 1.4cm showing octahedral forms surrounded by golden Pyrite cubes to 4mm.
Pyrite from Sparta, Randolph Co., Illinois, United States
This is what has always been called a Pyrite "sun", which is formed in black shales between and parallel to the thin layers resulting in these pancake like aggregates of Pyrite. Those cracks you see are perfectly stable and are rehealed.
Pyrite from Camp Bird mine, Ouray Co., Colorado, United States
A fine cluster of nicely striated, modified cubic, Pyrite crystals from 4 to 10mm. Each crystal is so well-defined you will have fun turning this specimen in your hand while marveling at each crystal.
Pyrite from Remedios mine, Taxco, Guerrero, Mexico
Hundreds of 1-3mm octahedral and iridescent Pyrite crystals on Quartz. Ex. Al Mura collection.
Pyrite from Morenci mine, Greenlee Co., Arizona, United States
A fabulous Pyrite crystals with cubic forms and many overgrowtch nestled in Quartz needles. The Pyrite crystal is 1.6cm.
Pyrite from Lower Mesabi Range, Itasca Co., Minnesota, United States
Spheroidal Pyrite groups composed of cubic crystals. One spheroid is 1.2cm. Nice piece from a historic mining district.
