PYRITE

 

 

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Actually  Pyrite comes from a Greek word, Pyrite meaning Fire. Pyrite is the classic Fool's Gold. There are other shiny brassy yellow minerals, but pyrite is by far the most common and the most mistaken for gold. Due to its natural golden colour look, Pyrite is a favourite among rock collectors. It has beautiful luster and interesting  crystals. It is so common in the earth's crust that is is found in almost every possible environment., hence it has a vast number of  forms and varieties. Pyrite is harder, less dense, and more brittle than gold. It leaves a greenish  black streak while gold leaves a golden  yellow one. However, Pyrite is often associated with the presence of  gold and copper.

Pyrite is a polymorph of  marcasit, which means that is has the same chemistry, FeS2, as marcaiste: but a different structure and therefore different symmetry and crystal shapes. Pyrite is difficult to distinguish from marcasite when a lack of clear indicators  exists.

Pyrite is common and contains a high percentage of  Iron, it has never been used as a significant source of  Iron. Iron oxides such as hematite and magnetite, are the primary  Iron ores. Pyrite is not as economical as these ores possibly due to their tendenchy to form larger concentrations of more easily mined material. Pyrite could be a potential source of Iron if these ores should become scarce.  

Pyrite is the most common of the sulfide minerals and can be found worldwide. It's the most important source of sulfur after native sulfur, Though Pyrite has been mined for its sulfur content though. During World War II, Sulfur was in demand as a strategic chemical and North American native sulfur mines were drying up. A sulfide deposit was found closer to Ducktown, Tennessae USA.,this deposits didnt only  produce Pyrite but they did also produce other sulfides such as Pyrrhotite and Pentlandite and produce the needed sulfur as well as Iron and other metals.The sulfur is used in the production of  Sulfuric acid, an important chemical for industrial purposes. Now most sulfur production comes from  H2S gas recovered from natural gas wells.

The mineral has a brassy yellow colour, it tends to form in cubes. The crystal faces are striated ( lined with fine ridges). Striking it with steel produces a spark.

Characteristics - Brittle, striations on cubic faces caused by crossing of pyritohedron with cube. (note - striations on cube faces also demonstrate pyrite's lower symmetry). Pyrite unlike is not malleable. Associated Minerals are quartz, calcite, gold, sphalerite, galena, fluorite and many other minerals.

Variety    Quartz , SiO 2 , Silicon Dioxide.
Crystalline Systeme  Trigonal
Colour Pure is Colourless
Uses Gemstone and ornamental stone
Refractive Index 1.544-1.553
Specific Gravity 2.65
Hardness  7
Class Tectosilicate
Cleavage None
Fracture Conchoidal
Luster vitreous
 

Streak

None
Pleochroism White to Distinct

 

Specific Gravity 2.65

 

 

 

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 Pyrite

 Stocks)

 

PYRITE DEPOSITS IN TANZANIA

Here in Tanzania Pyrite is found in Mererani - Where Tanzanite is being Mined. Infact  for any Experienced Tanzanite Miner when they have reached the Pyrite and very very greasy Graphite within the Tanzanite Gems Vein ,They are certainly sure within few metres of Mining they will find packeted Tanzanite Gemstones.
Pyrite is also found in Tanga Region plus other few  regions in Tanzania, In Tanga its Mining Deposits are not yet full Explored.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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