Pyrite is an iron sulfide mineral, more commonly known as "fool's gold" because of its brassy color and metallic luster.
Pronunciation: PIE•right (accent on capitalized syllable)
Color: brass
Streak: greenish to brownish black
Luster: metallic
Diaphaneity: opaque
Hardness: 6-6.5
Specific gravity: 5.02
Cleavage/fracture: fractures along irregular surfaces
Other distinguishing properties: Pyrite occurs in cubic or 12-sided crystals, and has no cleavage planes (i.e., it breaks along irregular surfaces). Pyrite is the most common sulfide mineral, and occurs in a number of different rock types and environments. Pyrite is a common mineral associated with hydrothermal activity.
Klein, C., and Hurlbut, C.S., Jr., 1999, Manual of Mineralogy (after James D. Dana) [21st edition, revised]: New York, John Wiley & Sons, 682 p.
Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, The Photo Atlas of Minerals: nhm.org/pam/
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