Pyrite

Object/Artifact

-

Crater Rock Museum

Name/Title

Pyrite

Entry/Object ID

2009.62.223

Description

Description: Common Name: Pyrite Chemistry: FeS2 Class: Sulfides Location: Colorado, USA Description: Gold colored crystals approx 1/4" to 1/2" PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Color is brassy yellow. Luster is metallic. Transparency: Crystals are opaque. Crystal System is isometric; bar 3 2/m Crystal Habits include the cube, octahedron and pyritohedron (a dodecahedron with pentagonal faces) and crystals with combinations of these forms. Good interpenetration twins called iron crosses are rare. Pyrite is commonly found in nodules. A flattened nodular variety called "Pyrite Suns" or "Pyrite Dollars" is popular in rock shops. Also massive or reniform and replaces other minerals and fossils forming pseudomorphs or copies. Cleavage is very indistinct. Fracture is conchoidal. Hardness is 6 - 6.5 Specific Gravity is approximately 5.1+ (heavier than average for metallic minerals) Streak is greenish black. Other Characteristics: Brittle, striations on cubic faces caused by crossing of pyritohedron with cube. (note - striations on cube faces also demonstrate pyrite's lower symmetry). Pyrite (unlike gold) is not malleable. Associated Minerals are quartz, calcite, gold, sphalerite, galena, fluorite and many other minerals. Pyrite is so common it may be quicker to name the unassociated minerals. Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, hardness, streak, luster and brittleness

Collection

RAGM Mineral Collection

Acquisition

Accession

2009.62

Source or Donor

Museum Collection of Minerals

Acquisition Method

Donation

Dimensions

Width

5 in

Depth

3 in

Length

6 in

Location

Location

Shelf

CS-E-2

Room

Curation Storage

Building

Crater Rock Museum

Category

Storage

Moved By

Jillian Mather Kettley

Date

March 5, 2024