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Title: Pyrite Peru
Medium: Digital Photography
Photographer: Aaron J. Greenblatt
Camera Type: Panasonic DMC-LZ7 Lumix 7.2 MP
Editing: Edited in PhotoShop 7.0 for color accuracy, size, and to apply copyright and border.
Location: Photograph taken at the 2008 Southeastern Michigan Gem and Mineral Show at the Southgate Civic Center in Southgate, Michigan. Show hosted by the Midwest Mineralogical & Lapidary Society.
Description: This five-inch-wide specimen of Pyrite from Huanzala, Peru was sitting in a box on a dealer's table at the show. It was priced at $55 and it glittered brilliantly in the bright halogen lights that the dealer was using for illumination. Taking a picture of this piece was difficult due to the thousands of light reflections dancing off of the shiny pyrite surfaces.
The dealer was nice enough to turn off some of his lights so that I could get this photo. It really does pay to ask if a dealer can accommodate you a bit when you're looking to get a decent shot. I've found that most dealers will happily do so.
The interesting thing about this particular piece of pyrite is the shape of the pyrite crystals - which aren't the typical cubes. Instead, the cubes seem to have bulged outward and distorted - almost as if they were "over inflated". These interestingly-shaped crystals are described as being "pyritohedral" (having the shape of pyrites). A pyritohedron (which is the actual shape of these crystals) is an irregular dodecahedron (a polyhedron with twelve faces), consisting of identical but irregular pentagons.
But what does all of this really mean? In layman's terms, it means that these oddly shaped pyrite crystals are more rare than cubical pyrite crystals and thus, of course, they are more expensive. Hence the $55 price tag for a piece of pyrite.
About Pyrite: The mineral pyrite (or iron pyrite) is an iron sulfide with the formula FeS2 and a Mohs hardness of 6–6.8. Pyrite is the most common of the sulfide minerals. It is found in a wide variety of geological formations; from sedimentary deposits to hydrothermal veins and as a constituent of metamorphic rocks.
Pyrite's metallic luster and pale-to-normal, brass-yellow hue have earned it the nickname fool's gold due to its resemblance to the shiny precious metal. However, pyrite is quite easy to distinguish from gold. Pyrite is much lighter and harder than gold, and it cannot be scratched with a fingernail or pocket knife like gold can.
Yet despite its nickname, small quantities of real gold are indeed sometimes found associated with pyrite. In fact, gold and arsenic occur as a coupled substitution in the pyrite crystal structure - which is simple cubic. And here's an interest fact: Pyrite's cubic structure was among the first crystal structures to be discovered by x-ray diffraction.
About Pyrite Uses: Pyrite is used commercially for the production of sulfur dioxide, for use in such applications as the paper industry, and in the manufacture of sulfuric acid. Pyrite has been proposed as an abundant inexpensive material for use in low cost photovoltaic solar panels (panels which can convert solar energy directly into electricity). Synthetic iron sulfide will be used with copper sulfide to create the experimental photovoltaic material.
Health Warning: When in contact with humidity and water, pyrite will often break down and form sulfuric acid. Thus you should always wash your hands after handling pyrite (especially crumbly material) and avoid inhaling dust when handling or breaking pieces. Also, you should never lick or ingest pyrite.
Other Pyrites? There are other types of pyrite aside from iron pyrite. Chalcopyrite (copper iron sulfide) is a brighter yellow than iron pyrite and it has a greenish hue when wet. It's also softer than iron pyrite, being between 3.5 and 4 on the Mohs scale. Chalcopyrite is the most abundant copper-bearing mineral.
Arsenopyrite (iron arsenic sulfide) is silver white and does not become more yellow when wet. It has a hardness of Mohs 5.5 to 6. When dissolved in nitric acid, arsenopyrite releases elemental sulfur. And when arsenopyrite is heated, it becomes magnetic and gives off toxic fumes. Also, with a 46% arsenic content, arsenopyrite (along with orpiment) is a principal ore of arsenic (a notoriously poisonous metalloid). Thus making arsenopyrite one of the more dangerous sulfides.
Information Sources:
[link] (wiki - Pyrite)
[link] (wiki - Arsenopyrite)
[link] (wiki - Chalcopyrite)
[link] (wiki - Photovoltaic)
[link] (mindat - Pyrite)
[link] (mindat - Chalcopyrite)
[link] (mindat - Arsenopyrite)
Legal: Copyright © Aaron J. Greenblatt. All rights reserved. Commercial use prohibited. This image and commentary may not be used for any reason without expressed written consent.
Please click here to view my photography work located in my Gallery.
Please click here for images of my glass work located in my other Gallery.
Please click here for images of my glass studio located in my other Scraps.
Title: Pyrite Peru
Medium: Digital Photography
Photographer: Aaron J. Greenblatt
Camera Type: Panasonic DMC-LZ7 Lumix 7.2 MP
Editing: Edited in PhotoShop 7.0 for color accuracy, size, and to apply copyright and border.
Location: Photograph taken at the 2008 Southeastern Michigan Gem and Mineral Show at the Southgate Civic Center in Southgate, Michigan. Show hosted by the Midwest Mineralogical & Lapidary Society.
Description: This five-inch-wide specimen of Pyrite from Huanzala, Peru was sitting in a box on a dealer's table at the show. It was priced at $55 and it glittered brilliantly in the bright halogen lights that the dealer was using for illumination. Taking a picture of this piece was difficult due to the thousands of light reflections dancing off of the shiny pyrite surfaces.
The dealer was nice enough to turn off some of his lights so that I could get this photo. It really does pay to ask if a dealer can accommodate you a bit when you're looking to get a decent shot. I've found that most dealers will happily do so.
The interesting thing about this particular piece of pyrite is the shape of the pyrite crystals - which aren't the typical cubes. Instead, the cubes seem to have bulged outward and distorted - almost as if they were "over inflated". These interestingly-shaped crystals are described as being "pyritohedral" (having the shape of pyrites). A pyritohedron (which is the actual shape of these crystals) is an irregular dodecahedron (a polyhedron with twelve faces), consisting of identical but irregular pentagons.
But what does all of this really mean? In layman's terms, it means that these oddly shaped pyrite crystals are more rare than cubical pyrite crystals and thus, of course, they are more expensive. Hence the $55 price tag for a piece of pyrite.
About Pyrite: The mineral pyrite (or iron pyrite) is an iron sulfide with the formula FeS2 and a Mohs hardness of 6–6.8. Pyrite is the most common of the sulfide minerals. It is found in a wide variety of geological formations; from sedimentary deposits to hydrothermal veins and as a constituent of metamorphic rocks.
Pyrite's metallic luster and pale-to-normal, brass-yellow hue have earned it the nickname fool's gold due to its resemblance to the shiny precious metal. However, pyrite is quite easy to distinguish from gold. Pyrite is much lighter and harder than gold, and it cannot be scratched with a fingernail or pocket knife like gold can.
Yet despite its nickname, small quantities of real gold are indeed sometimes found associated with pyrite. In fact, gold and arsenic occur as a coupled substitution in the pyrite crystal structure - which is simple cubic. And here's an interest fact: Pyrite's cubic structure was among the first crystal structures to be discovered by x-ray diffraction.
About Pyrite Uses: Pyrite is used commercially for the production of sulfur dioxide, for use in such applications as the paper industry, and in the manufacture of sulfuric acid. Pyrite has been proposed as an abundant inexpensive material for use in low cost photovoltaic solar panels (panels which can convert solar energy directly into electricity). Synthetic iron sulfide will be used with copper sulfide to create the experimental photovoltaic material.
Health Warning: When in contact with humidity and water, pyrite will often break down and form sulfuric acid. Thus you should always wash your hands after handling pyrite (especially crumbly material) and avoid inhaling dust when handling or breaking pieces. Also, you should never lick or ingest pyrite.
Other Pyrites? There are other types of pyrite aside from iron pyrite. Chalcopyrite (copper iron sulfide) is a brighter yellow than iron pyrite and it has a greenish hue when wet. It's also softer than iron pyrite, being between 3.5 and 4 on the Mohs scale. Chalcopyrite is the most abundant copper-bearing mineral.
Arsenopyrite (iron arsenic sulfide) is silver white and does not become more yellow when wet. It has a hardness of Mohs 5.5 to 6. When dissolved in nitric acid, arsenopyrite releases elemental sulfur. And when arsenopyrite is heated, it becomes magnetic and gives off toxic fumes. Also, with a 46% arsenic content, arsenopyrite (along with orpiment) is a principal ore of arsenic (a notoriously poisonous metalloid). Thus making arsenopyrite one of the more dangerous sulfides.
Information Sources:
[link] (wiki - Pyrite)
[link] (wiki - Arsenopyrite)
[link] (wiki - Chalcopyrite)
[link] (wiki - Photovoltaic)
[link] (mindat - Pyrite)
[link] (mindat - Chalcopyrite)
[link] (mindat - Arsenopyrite)
Legal: Copyright © Aaron J. Greenblatt. All rights reserved. Commercial use prohibited. This image and commentary may not be used for any reason without expressed written consent.
Please click here to view my photography work located in my Gallery.
Please click here for images of my glass work located in my other Gallery.
Please click here for images of my glass studio located in my other Scraps.
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Comments5
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Very nice!