The chemical composition of pyrite is FeS2. It is an important sulphur mineral ore with a sulphur content 53.4%. It belongs to the isometric crystal system, and the crystal form is cubic, pentagonal dodecahedral or octahedral. Crystal twinning is common, and the crystal faces are usually striped. It also appears as clumpy, granular, reniform, stalactitic, botryoidal or nodular aggregates. It is light yellow with greenish black streaks. It has opaque diaphaneity, a metallic lustre, a specific gravity of 5.0, a Mohs hardness of 6–6.5 and conchoidal fractures. It is a common secondary mineral in magmatic, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. Pyrite is a raw material for refining sulphuric acid. Pyrite crystals are very good ornamental stones (Fig. 36).
Pyrite
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsEditor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this entry
Cite this entry
(2020). Pyrite. In: Chen, A., Ng, Y., Zhang, E., Tian, M. (eds) Dictionary of Geotourism. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2538-0_1968
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2538-0_1968
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-13-2537-3
Online ISBN: 978-981-13-2538-0
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences