Pyrite (500 gram bag) from Spain "made in Germany"

Pyrite or iron molar is a mineral with the formula FeS2 (chemical name: iron disulfide). The mineral is an important iron and sulfur ore. It often forms well-formed (euhedral) crystals in the shape of a cube with characteristic striations and a golden sheen. It is also called tinsel or crazy gold (from the English fool's gold) because it was sometimes mistaken for gold. The name cat gold is sometimes incorrectly used, however, this refers to yellow mica or resin. Since pyrite is abundant, this can create the illusion of great wealth. However, pyrite is not worth very much (although it can be sold). It is found along with other sulfur-containing minerals, but also with oxides, in quartz veins, in sedimentary rocks in carbon beds, and as a replacement mineral in fossils. Pyrite is a disulfide with sulfur pairs (S2) 2- and Fe2 + ions in an octahedral surround in a t2g6 low spin state. Due to the fact that both ions have a closed configuration, it is a diamagnetic semiconductor. Iron (hydr) oxides are formed during the weathering of pyrite, which also releases sulfuric acid. This acid can then react with other minerals and therefore lead to the formation of, for example, gypsum, alunite and jarosite. An important site of pyrite is the island of Elba. The name pyrite is very old, derived from the old Indo-European word pyr (fire, cf. for example pyrotechnics for fireworks art, or the English pyre (funeral pyre), because sparks could be made by striking pyrite against flint or iron. the day we mean by flint something completely different (a certain form of SiO2). Other names that one can come across for pyrite are ferrous sulphide, sulfur iron and the less common words ironblende and iron molar. Pyrite used to be sold for fake gold because it shines gold. However, the luster changes when the luster surface is tilted, with gold the golden luster remains the same, Pyrite is also angular, with sharp edges and hard, while gold is round and soft.