Hand specimens of pyrite are usually easy to identify. The two minerals often form together, and in some deposits pyrite contains enough included gold to warrant mining.Р”В«rass yellow - often tarnished to dull brassР”В¬olor, hardness, brittle, greenish black streak, specific gravity However, pyrite is often associated with gold. Pyrite has a nickname that has become famous - ' Fool's Gold.' The mineral's gold color, metallic luster, and high specific gravity often cause it to be mistaken for gold by inexperienced prospectors. Pieces of pyrite have also been used as a spark-producing material in flintlock firearms. Starting a fire if it is struck against metal or another hard material. The name 'pyrite' is after the Greek 'pyr' meaning 'fire.' This name was given because pyrite can be used to create the sparks needed for Pyrite is so common that many geologists would consider it to be a ubiquitous mineral.

It forms at high and low temperatures and occurs, usually in small quantities, in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks worldwide. It has a chemical composition of iron sulfide (FeS 2) and is the most common sulfide mineral. Pyrite is a brass-yellow mineral with a bright metallic luster.

Image by Carles Millan and used under a Creative Commons license. Specimen is approximately 4 inches (9.5 centimeters) across. Pyrite Crystals: Cubic crystals of pyrite on a marlstone from NavajР“С”n, Rioja, Spain.

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