Pyrite

Pyrite is an iron sulfide mineral with the formula FeS₂, a metallic luster, and a pale brass-yellow color. Its resemblance to gold earned it the nickname “fool’s gold.”

Iron sulfide: A chemical compound composed of iron and sulfur. Pyrite is one crystalline form of this compound family.
Sulfide ore: A mineral deposit from which metals can be extracted, commonly containing sulfur-bearing minerals. Pyrite occurs in sulfide deposits and can accompany economically valuable ores.
Ammonite: An extinct marine cephalopod with a coiled shell, often preserved as a fossil. Pyrite can replace or coat ammonite shells during fossilization.
Acid mine drainage: Acidic, metal-rich water produced when sulfide minerals oxidize in exposed mine waste. Exposed pyrite can oxidize and generate the acidity that drives this pollution.
Gold: A dense, malleable metallic element with the chemical symbol Au. Gold resembles pyrite in color but is softer, denser, and malleable.
Cubic crystal system: A crystal system with three equal axes meeting at right angles. Pyrite’s crystals commonly develop cubic symmetry.
Sulfuric acid: A strong mineral acid produced industrially in large quantities. Roasting pyrite releases sulfur dioxide, historically used to make sulfuric acid.
Pyritized fossil: A fossil preserved partly or wholly through replacement by pyrite. These fossils show pyrite forming within buried biological remains.
Pyrite oxidation: A set of reactions in which pyrite reacts with oxygen and water, producing sulfate and acidity. These reactions explain pyrite’s environmental impact after exposure to air and water.
Chalcopyrite: A brass-yellow copper iron sulfide mineral with the formula CuFeS₂. This common ore mineral can resemble pyrite but is softer and copper-bearing.

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