Pyrite

Object/Artifact

-

Crater Rock Museum

Pyrite

Pyrite

Name/Title

Pyrite

Entry/Object ID

78.63.92

Description

Chemical Composition: FeS2 Crystal System: Cubic or Isometric S Description: Common Name: Pyrite Chemistry: FeS2 Group:Sulfides Location: Stargulch,Applegate Valley,Oregon Description: Three gold colored cubes of Pyrite 1/2" large per side sticking out of a layered,grayish, earthy rock. White Quartz vein runs down one side. These cubes of Pyrite frequently alter to Limonite,which stillremains the cubic shape (Pseudomorph). 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. • Notable Occurrences include Illinois and Missouri, USA; Peru; Germany; Russia; Spain; and South Africa among many others. • Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, hardness, streak, luster and brittleness. - See more at: http://www.galleries.com/Pyrite#sthash.Cl0vp8Aq.dpuf Fracture: Conchoidal Hardness: 6 Orthoclase Luster: Metallic Rock Type: Metamorphic Specific Gravity: 5.1+ Streak: Greenish black

Collection

Delmar Smith Mineral Collection

Acquisition

Accession

78.63.92

Dimensions

Width

4-1/4 in

Depth

1-1/2 in

Length

2-1/2 in

Weight

0.46 oz

Dimension Notes

Dimension taken at widest points

Location

Location

Shelf

CS-E-1

Room

Curation Storage

Building

Crater Rock Museum

Category

Storage

Moved By

Curator

Date

February 23, 2024