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Locations: Austria, China, Mexico, Romania, Russia, South  Africa  Colors Found:  Golden yellow  Family:  Pyrite  Hardness:  6.00 - 6.50  Refractive Index:  None  Relative Density:  4.90 - 5.20

Pyrite has a shiny golden yellow color and a metallic luster. The name comes from the Greek word “pyr” word meaning “a gemstone that strikes fire”. This is due to the sparks produced when Pyrite strikes iron. While Pyrite is often mistaken for gold, they are quite different. Pyrite grains are lighter and tougher than gold, and have broken faces, properties that are not normally found in gold. Thus only a fool would mistake it for gold, which is why Pyrite is also known as “fool’s gold”.

Marcasite is often used as a jewelry trade name for Pyrite. Although they are called Marcasite, they are actually Pyrite, as true Marcasite is unsuitable for jewelry. The confusion between the two dates back several hundreds years due to their similar appearance. Marcasite’s name was derived from “marqashith”, the Arabic word, for Pyrite, after an old province in northeastern Persia. Marcasite jewelry (Pyrite) is a popular style that became fashionable during Queen Victoria’s reign. Marcasite jewelry normally uses Pyrite cut and polished in a circular outline (square cut gems are occasionally used) and pavé set between sterling silver beads to enhance their brilliance. They were originally used because they catch the light and glow like small diamonds. Today, Marcasite jewelry is often fashioned into 925 sterling silver rings, earrings, pendants, broaches, necklaces and bracelets.



Used by the ancient Greeks in pins, earrings and amulets. Pyrite was once polished by Native Americans and used as mirrors. Pyrite is also known as “Healer’s Gold” and is highly regarded by crystal healers as a gemstone of intellect and protection



Pyrite is composed of iron sulphide. When found in its raw state, Pyrite crystals can be shaped as cubes, octahedrons and pyritohedrons (12 faces). Twinning causes “iron crosses” that look like interpenetrating cubes. Collectors particularly favor a flattened nodular variety called “Pyrite Suns” or “Pyrite Dollars”.

Pyrite is present in igneous rocks as an accessory mineral, in sedimentary rocks, especially black shale, and in metamorphic rocks, most notably in slates. Pyrite is sometimes found as a replacement mineral in fossils.