Pyrite By Gaby Shah

Pyrite

Properties of Pyrite Color: Shiny, Brassy Yellow Streak: Green, Black to Brownish, Black Hardness: Cleavage: Indistinct on {001} Fracture: Very uneven, sometimes choncoidal Density: 4.8–5 g/cm3 Other: very common, Fool’s Gold

Pyrites Chemical Composition FeS2, Iron Sulfide Contains 1 Iron and 2 Sulfur

Where is Pyrite Found Found almost everywhere Mainly in Peru, South Africa, and Spain

Mining and Processing Pyrite Mined with underground mining Dangerous, can turn into sulfuric acid and leak into rivers, streams, etc, kills everything Processed at temperatures up to 850 degrees C through as many as five processing cycles

How much is Pyrite Worth? Grams: Less than 10 cents Ounces: ? Tons: ? Kilograms: $400

Uses of Pyrite Used in the recovery process of gold, iron, copper, cobalt, nickel Used to make inexpensive jewelry

Pyrite in Crystal Form

Gemstones Def.: a precious or semiprecious stone, cut, polished, and often used in a piece of jewelry. Not all minerals are gemstones because a gemstone is the crystalline form of a mineral.