Home > Mexico IV Ojuela II – January 19 > MS1737 Pyrite
Pyrite - Sold
- Mina Ojuela
- Mapimí
- Durango
- Mexico
- 6.5 × 5.6 × 4.7 cm – Small cabinet specimen (under 10 cm)
Pyrite is a disulfide of iron while sphalerite is a sulfide of zinc. The name pyrite comes from the Greek root pyr for fire, since it sparks on impact. The name pyrite dates back to Pliny the Elder's Natural History written 77 AD and predates the English language.
Sulfide minerals are not typical of Ojuela material brought to the collector market. Cubic pyrite crystals to 8 mm sit on iron stained quartz. Found 2010.