pyrite

py·rite  (prt)

n.

A brass-colored mineral, FeS₂, occurring widely and used as an iron ore and in producing sulfur dioxide for sulfuric acid. Also called fool's gold, iron pyrites.

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[Middle English perides, pirite, from Old French pirite, from Latin pyrts, flint; see pyrites.]

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py·ritic (-rtk), py·riti·cal (--kl) adj.

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pyrite [pie-rite]

Noun

a yellow mineral consisting of iron sulphide in cubic crystalline form. Formula: FeS₂ [Latin pyrites flint]

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pyrite  (prt)

A silver to yellow, metallic, cubic mineral. Pyrite often crystallizes in cubes or octahedrons but also occurs as shapeless masses of grains. It occurs in most types of rocks, and is used as a source of iron and in making sulfur dioxide. It is a polymorph of marcasite. Because of its shiny look and often yellow color, it is sometimes mistaken for gold and for this reason is also called fool's gold. Chemical formula: FeS₂.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

pyrite - a common mineral (iron disulfide) that has a pale yellow color fool's gold, iron pyrite atomic number 34, Se, selenium - a toxic nonmetallic element related to sulfur and tellurium; occurs in several allotropic forms; a stable grey metallike allotrope conducts electricity better in the light than in the dark and is used in photocells; occurs in sulfide ores (as pyrite) mineral - solid homogeneous inorganic substances occurring in nature having a definite chemical composition