Rough Pyrite aka Fools Gold
A great piece of rough pyrite from our collection of rocks and minerals.
This iron sulphide mineral is also known as fools gold. The reason is apparently because during the Great American gold rush, the non-mining community mistook small pieces of pyrite for gold.
This claim is repeated in many articles particularly online but I can't find any great amount of factual evidence to support it.
Despite the brassy yellow colour of pyrite being similar to gold, it is quite easy to tell one from the other.
One of the main differences is pyrite is considerably harder but it's also brittle. Minerals that are brittle tend to chip or shatter easily.
Gold may be softer than pyrite but it's ductile which means it has the ability to be drawn out or stretched without losing strength or getting damaged.
If a piece of gold of less than a gram was continually pounded its size could increase to as much as a metre in diameter.
Gold is also much heavier than pyrite and because of its density is even heavier than lead.
As this rough piece of pyrite catches the light minute sparkling crystals can be seen on all faces.
