Pyrite

minerals · metallic · earth science · chemistry

Looks like real gold. Pyrite is so shiny and golden-colored that people used to mistake it for actual gold, giving it the nickname fool's gold. But it's way less valuable and much harder than real gold.

Made of iron and sulfur. Pyrite is an iron sulfide mineral with the scientific formula FeS2, which means each piece contains iron atoms bonded with sulfur atoms. This special combination gives pyrite its unique properties.

The most common sulfide. Pyrite is actually the most abundant sulfide mineral on Earth, which means you can find it in rocks and soil almost everywhere around the world.

Perfect cube crystals. When pyrite forms crystals, they often grow into beautiful cube shapes with flat, shiny faces that reflect light like mirrors. This geometric perfection makes it super cool to collect.

Useful industrial mineral. Beyond fooling treasure hunters, pyrite is used to make sulfuric acid, which is important in many industries, and it's even used in some electronics.