Spying that shining, sparkling, golden colored rock, how many men have cried, “It’s gold!” only to be told they are a fool. Who is that masked rock pretending to be gold? It’s pyrite, known for years as fool’s gold. Too hard, too brittle, too light golden, pyrite could trick anyone. Although pyrite might argue it never meant to fool anyone because it’s pretty special in it’s own way.
Pyrite is an iron sulfide mineral and is found around the world in a variety of forms. The name pyrite drives from the Greek pyr or pyros, meaning fire for it’s ability to emit sparks when struck together or against a hard surface. Pyrite was highly prized by American Indians as a healing stone of magic.
