Iron Pyrite
Image: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/14730981@N08">James Petts</a> from London, England (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Mineral NameIron Pyrite
Chemical FormulaFeS₂
Mohs Hardness6.5
Crystal Systemcubic
Lustermetallic
Streak Colorgreenish-black to brownish-black
Cleavagevery poor/indistinct
Fractureconchoidal to uneven
Specific Gravity5
Colorssilvery-gray, dark gray
Transparencyopaque
Type LocalityWidespread, notable localities include Navajún, Spain; Peru; and various sites in the USA.
Mineral GroupSulfides
Usessulfur production, sulfuric acid production, collector's item, historical use in firearms
Associated Mineralsquartz, chalcopyrite, galena, sphalerite, gold
Raritycommon
Description
A blocky, metallic specimen displaying a silvery-gray to dark gray color, with distinct parallel striations on one face and a rough, somewhat granular texture on other surfaces.
Geological Context
Pyrite forms in diverse geological environments, including hydrothermal veins, sedimentary rocks, and metamorphic rocks, often under reducing conditions in oxygen-poor environments.
