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  Mineral Information Mineral Information  

Pyrites

The specimens depicted top right and left centre, originated from Elba, while the bottom right one came from Brighton, Sussex, England. They were all kindly loaned by Gregory, Bottley & Company.

Synonyms

 

Iron pyrites. Fool's gold. Coal brasses. Fer sulphure (Fr.), Schwefelkies, eisenkies (Germ.), Svafcelkies (Swed.), Pirite (Ital.), Pirita (Span.)


Nomenclature

 

The name pyrites is derived from the Greek work for fire in allusion to the sparks produced when the mineral is struck with a piece of steel.

Source: "Mine & Quarry Engineering", March 1954, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.


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