Natural Pyrite Crystals

Fine grade cube-shaped crystals of pyrite.  The brassy-yellow colour that gives this mineral a similar appearance to gold is the reason it's also known as fools gold.

Despite the similarity of gold and pyrite, there are several ways to distinguish one from the other.  Although both have a brassy-yellow colour and metallic lustre, gold is far more yellow.  When the two are side by side the difference in colour is clear to see.  

Pyrite is a much harder mineral but unlike gold is brittle.  Strike a piece of gold repeatedly with a hammer and it will get flatter and flatter.  Do the same to pyrite and you'll smash it to pieces.

The mineral pyrite is a naturally occurring solid with a crystalline structure.  That means it's made up of crystals.  These can grow in several shapes but one of the most common is a cube.

Isometric or cube-shaped crystals are one of the simplest and most common shapes found in minerals.