Pyrite
Image: <div class="fn value"> <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Archaeodontosaurus" title="User:Archaeodontosaurus">Didier Descouens</a></div> (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Mineral NamePyrite
Chemical FormulaFeS2
Mohs Hardness6
Crystal Systemcubic
Lustermetallic
Streak Colorgreenish-black to brownish-black
Cleavageindistinct/poor
Fractureconchoidal to uneven
Specific Gravity5
Colorspale brass-yellow, golden
Transparencyopaque
Type LocalityTrimouns Talc Mine, France
Mineral GroupSulfides
Usessulfur production, sulfuric acid production, collector specimens
Associated Mineralsquartz, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, gold
Raritycommon
Description
This image displays a large, well-formed crystal of pyrite, characterized by its distinct metallic luster and pale brass-yellow to golden color, with some areas showing a reddish-brown tarnish.
Geological Context
Pyrite is a common sulfide mineral found in a wide variety of geological settings, including igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, often forming in hydrothermal veins, contact metamorphic deposits, or as an accessory mineral.
