| Pyrite (Iron Pyrite) "Fools Gold" |
| SpiritRock Shop |
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| Striated Pyritohedral Pyrite specimen from Peru I suppose it's true that you just can't keep every excellent specimen you find...This one is from our private collection...an amazing 2.98 pound plate of beautifully formed striated pyrite crystals on a plate of pyrite. The front of this specimen is covered with formations of pyritohedral and striated crystals. The base is fine granular pyrite with the back showing many vugs filled with smaller pyrite crystals. This one weighs 2.98 lb (1352g) and measures @ 6 x 4.6 x 2.5 inches (15.2 x 11.7 x 6.5cm). |
| Pyritohedral Pyrite with Drusy Quartz with Pyrite inclusions from Brazil Very nice specimen of Pyritohedral pyrite covered partially with a drusy quartz layer that has fine pyrite inclusions giving a "pyrite sprinkled" look to the quartz. This piece weighs 0.28 lb (128g) and measures 2.4 x 1.4 x 1.1 inches (61 x 36 x 29mm). |
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| Pyrite Pyrite is the classic "Fool's Gold". There are other shiny brassy yellow minerals, but pyrite is by far the most common and the most often mistaken for gold. Whether it is the golden look or something else, pyrite is a favorite among rock collectors. It can have a beautiful luster and interesting crystals. It is so common in the earth's crust that it is found in almost every possible environment, hence it has a vast number of forms and varieties. Unlike gold, which is prized because of its color, brightness, workability, and rareness, Pyrite is not a metal, but rather, a sulfide made up of iron and sulfur. Pyrite is much harder and more brittle, and it tarnishes to a dark brown. Fool's Gold is very common, and this has led to many people thinking they had discovered real gold over the years. Pyrite forms when hydrogen sulfide combines with iron. These common elements often fuse and are carried by heated fluids to cracks in native rocks where pyrite is deposited. It is attractive, and many museums keep specimens of Pyrite for display or educational purposes. Bravoite is the name given to a nickel-rich iron sulfide. It is closely related to pyrite but contains up to 20% nickel. Some mineral books treat it as a variety of pyrite. Pyrite is a polymorph of Marcasite, which means that it has the same chemistry, FeS2, as Marcasite; but a different structure and therefore different symmetry and crystal shapes. Pyrite is difficult to distinguish from Marcasite when a lack of clear indicators exists. Common Shapes of Pyrite |
| Pyritohedral |
| Sunflower |
| Cubic |
| Striated |
| Pyrite Sun from Sparta, Illinois. Pure Pyrite crystallization with no matrix featuring radiating golden crystals that sparkle in the light. These are also known as Pyrite Dollars and Sun Dollars. Collected in a coal mine hundreds of feet below the earth's surface, this sun formed over 300 million years ago! Fanned crystal structure is due to compressed growth between sheets of slate. |
| Item # PYR11079993 Pyritohedral Pyrite with Drusy Quartz with Pyrite inclusions from Brazil $75.00 |
| Item #PA 01110004 Two Pyrite-replaced mounted Ammonites from Russia $99.00 |
| Pyrite-replaced Ammonite mounted partial cut and polished display from Russia The fossilization process has naturally replaced the original shell with golden pyrite - a feature that is HIGHLY-prized. Ammonites are extinct members of the Cephalopod class. They were abundant and widespread in the seas of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods (175 million to 65 million years ago). These pyrite ammonites are found in Mickhailov in the Volga River area of Russia. They have been partially cut, leaving the inner coils intact and polished. They have been nicely mounted for a beautiful and striking display! The specimen weighs 89g (3 oz) or 0.2 lb. The display measures 2.9 x 2.2 x 1.2" (74 x 56 x 31mm). The smaller ammonite measures 23 x 29mm with a 10 x 9mm un-cut center. The larger ammonite measures 29 x 33mm with a 9 x 11mm un-cut center. A Fantastic Display! |
| Item # PYR0409175 Pyrite Sunflower from China $24.00 |
| Pyrite Sunflower from China Very nice specimen of Pyrite Sunflower formation from an undisclosed location in China. This specimen has a "pyrite sprinkled" look to it. This piece weighs 0.6 lb (274g) and measures 3.1 x 2.2 x 0.9 inches (78 x 56 x 23mm). |
| Very Rare Pyrite ball of crystals in Limestone matrix! Very rare ball of pyrite crystals perched aesthetically in a large plate of limestone. This is rare because almost every pyrite found in the limestone hills east of Dallas doesn't have any matrix, or what bit of matrix they do have associated crumbles and falls off as soon as you touch it. Finding a large specimen like this with completely stable matrix enclosing such a pretty pyrite ball is an unusual treasure indeed. The pyrite is unusually gold and sparkly for this locale, (near Midlothian) and the limestone has nice contrasting color bands running through it. If you collect pyrite, don't miss your chance to add this rare beauty to your collection. Specimen weighs 0.54 lbs (246g) and measures 5.3 x 4 x 0.85 inches (13.4 x 10.1 x 2.1 cm). |
| Item # PYR08104650 Pyrite Ball of Crystals in Limestone Matrix $29.00 |
| Item # PY12105952 Golden small Pyrite cubes on white Quartz from Peru $54.00 |
Morococha Mine is an underground, polymetallic vein
mine located in the Yauli Province, Junin district,
approximately 60 miles southwest of Lima, Peru.
The Morococha district is at about 14,436 feet elevation
(4400 meters) and is located roughly 10.5 miles (17 km)
east-northeast of Casapalca, Peru and about 15.5 miles
(25 km) west-southwest of La Oroya, Peru.
The Morococha district is a spectacular region of high
glacier-clad peaks and lakes close to the crest of the
western Andean Mountain Range. It lies in a nearly
east-west trending valley with its outlet to the east. Three
lakes occupy the valley, at elevations ranging from
14,200 to 15,100 feet (4,350 to 4,600 meters).
The Quechua name Morococha means "painted lake,"
because of the brilliant coloring of the altered rocks
surrounding the area.
Once abundant, pyrite specimens from Morococha are
now rarely seen. Crystals are usually pyritohedrons in
sizes up to several centimeters, Good typical
specimens from here are about 6 x 7 cm, and are
composed of bright pyritohedrons about l cm across.
mine located in the Yauli Province, Junin district,
approximately 60 miles southwest of Lima, Peru.
The Morococha district is at about 14,436 feet elevation
(4400 meters) and is located roughly 10.5 miles (17 km)
east-northeast of Casapalca, Peru and about 15.5 miles
(25 km) west-southwest of La Oroya, Peru.
The Morococha district is a spectacular region of high
glacier-clad peaks and lakes close to the crest of the
western Andean Mountain Range. It lies in a nearly
east-west trending valley with its outlet to the east. Three
lakes occupy the valley, at elevations ranging from
14,200 to 15,100 feet (4,350 to 4,600 meters).
The Quechua name Morococha means "painted lake,"
because of the brilliant coloring of the altered rocks
surrounding the area.
Once abundant, pyrite specimens from Morococha are
now rarely seen. Crystals are usually pyritohedrons in
sizes up to several centimeters, Good typical
specimens from here are about 6 x 7 cm, and are
composed of bright pyritohedrons about l cm across.
| Classic Morococha, Peru Pyrite specimen! 1.35 lb (614g) 3.6 x 2.7 x 2.3 inches (9.2 x 6.8 x 5.7cm) This wonderful and exceptionally rare specimen comes from the old "Mineral Museum" in Follansbee, West Virginia that was operated by the respected rockhound Jim Smedley who made his collections during the 1950's into the early 1960's. Jim wrote some excellent articles in the Rocks and Minerals magazine during those years detailing his family cross country and foreign country rock collecting trips filling the trunk of his old Studebaker with as many specimens as the car would allow. We were lucky enough to obtain some specimens from the old "Mineral Museum" collection and are keeping most of them for our personal collection but we feel it is only fair to share some of these treasures with our loyal customers as well! |
| VERY RARE! Old Stock Morococha Peru Pyrite from the old "Mineral Museum" |
| Item # PYR08107421 Very Rare Morococha, Peru Pyrite from the "Mineral Museum" |
| (Museum ID tag is included) |
| Item # PYR12101042 2.98 lb Pyritohedral and Striated Pyrite display specimen from Peru $89.00 |
| Beautiful "shelf edge" specimen of golden pyrite Striated Pyritohedral cubes on small glistening quartz points. This specimen from Peru was an overgrowth coating on a host rock. It's unusual shape makes a dramatic natural display. This is one of those pieces that just grab your attention! Great collector specimen! This specimen weighs 2.38 oz (67g) and measures 2.7 x 2.1 inches (69 x 53mm) on a plate from 1/4 to 1/2 inches thick (7 to 13mm) |
| Item #PA 01110082 Two Whole Pyrite-replaced mounted Ammonites from Russia $60.00 |
| Pyrite-replaced Ammonite mounted display from Russia The fossilization process has naturally replaced the original shell with golden pyrite - a feature that is HIGHLY-prized. Ammonites are extinct members of the Cephalopod class. They were abundant and widespread in the seas of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods (175 million to 65 million years ago). These pyrite ammonites are found in Mickhailov in the Volga River area of Russia. They have been nicely mounted for a beautiful and asthetic display! The specimen weighs 35g (1.2 oz). The display measures 1.4 x 1.7 x 1.1" (37 x 43 x 30mm). The smaller ammonite measures 14 x 17mm. The larger ammonite measures 19 x 25mm. The use of iridescent pyrite crystals makes this appear as rainbow pyrite on the base. Another Fantastic Display! |
| Item #PA 01110004 Two Pyrite-replaced mounted Ammonites from Russia $99.00 |
| Pyrite-replaced Ammonite mounted partial cut and polished display from Russia The fossilization process has naturally replaced the original shell with golden pyrite - a feature that is HIGHLY-prized. Ammonites are extinct members of the Cephalopod class. They were abundant and widespread in the seas of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods (175 million to 65 million years ago). These pyrite ammonites are found in Mickhailov in the Volga River area of Russia. They have been partially cut, leaving the inner coils intact and polished. They have been nicely mounted for a beautiful and striking display! The specimen weighs 89g (3 oz) or 0.2 lb. The display measures 2.9 x 2.2 x 1.2" (74 x 56 x 31mm). The smaller ammonite measures 23 x 29mm with a 10 x 9mm un-cut center. The larger ammonite measures 29 x 33mm with a 9 x 11mm un-cut center. A Fantastic Display! |
| Item #PA 01110022 Single Whole Pyrite-replaced mounted Ammonite from Russia $45.00 |
| Pyrite-replaced Ammonite mounted display from Russia The fossilization process has naturally replaced the original shell with golden pyrite - a feature that is HIGHLY-prized. Ammonites are extinct members of the Cephalopod class. They were abundant and widespread in the seas of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods (175 million to 65 million years ago). These pyrite ammonites are found in Mickhailov in the Volga River area of Russia. This one has been nicely mounted for a beautiful and asthetic display! The specimen weighs 47g (1.6 oz). The display measures 1.4 x 1.7 x 1.1" (35 x 43 x 29mm). The ammonite measures 19 x 24mm. The use of iridescent pyrite crystals makes this appear as rainbow pyrite on the base. Another Fantastic Display! |
| Item # PYR121020AA 0.59 lb Pyritohedral Pyrite display specimen from Peru $22.00 |
| Pyritohedral Pyrite specimen from Peru 0.59 pound specimen of beautifully formed pyrite crystals on a base of pyrite. There are sections of this specimen is covered with formations of pyritohedral crystals. The base is fine granular pyrite with the back showing many vugs filled with smaller pyrite crystals. This one weighs 0.59 lb (268g) and measures 2.8 x 2.1 x 2 inches (72 x 55 x 51mm). |
| Classic Morococha, Peru Pyrite specimen! 1.6 lb (725g) 3.2 x 2.4 x 2.6 inches (8.3 x 6.2 x 6.7cm) This wonderful and rare specimen comes from the Morococha District, Yauli Provence Junin Dept, Peru. It displays very nicely and comes from our personal collection. Once abundant, pyrite specimens from Morococha are now rarely seen. These Crystals are pyritohedrons in sizes up to 2.1 centimeters, The piece is composed of shiny bright pyritohedrons. |
| Item # PYR06110363 Rare Morococha, Peru Pyrite $95.00 |
| Unusual Crystal Habits! Pyrite 1 lb (452g) 2.8 x 2.7 x 1.9 inches (7.1 x 6.8 x 4.9cm) This amazing and rare specimen comes from the Txi Industries Quarry in Midlothian, Ellis County, Texas. This is an Old Stock specimen that was originally procured by IKON Mining & Exploration based in Fallbrook, California. (That ID card included) We found this specimen in an old rock shop in Utah. It has been in our collection for a few years now but as we are preparing to move to North Carolina, we are selling off personal collection pieces to reduce total moving weight. |
| Item # PYR06114643 Pyrite with Unusual Crystal Habits from Midlothian, Texas $125.00 |
| We have never seen crystal formations like this in Pyrite! It is like layers of leaf-like plates and triangles ...a really different piece for the Pyrite Collector! Texas Pyrite is normally a dull brass color finish, not the bright gold shine. |
| Notice to Our Customers We will be closed from May 18th through August 15th 2012 to relocate our business. Orders placed during this time will not be shipped until after August 15th. Purchases or Reservations will be honored in the date order they are received. 1st purchaser is served 1st. |