This is one of the largest well developed crystal pyrites mined
in North America. It came from Cananea, Sonora, Mexico. The
town of Cananea is about 80 miles southeast of Tucson, Arizona,
where the largest gem and mineral show in the world is held
each February. Its crystal faces measure more than 4 inches
across. The largest pyrite crystal at the Smithsonian Museum
in Washington D.C. measures about seven inches across the face
of the crystal, and it is from Spain. Spain has some of the
most perfect large pyrite crystals in the world. They average
a half inch to two inches across. Most of the more perfect
pyrite crystals in North America usually measure about 1/8" to
1/2" across. What is the largest single crystal pyrite have
you found?
The Pyrite crystal at the Discovery Center is on loan indefintely
by a local gem and mineral collector by the name of Jack Slevkoff.
The estimated collector value of this pyrite is about $1500.
It would be worth much more if it did not have damaged edges.
Iron Pyrite is composed of iron disulfied and sometimes has
nickel and cobalt included. Its hardness on the Mohs scale is
6 to 6-1/2. The cubed shape is due to the Isometric formation
of its structure as it grew from a point equally in six
directions at right angles to each other. Pyrite has no
cleavage planes.
Pyrite occurs in many types of rocks especially in hydrothermal
veins. It is normally associated with quartz, microlines, and
biotites, which are often found in granite pegmatites.
Massive forms of pyrite and small-grain pyrite is often mistaken
for native gold. Therefore it is sometimes refered to as "fools
gold". Iron pyrite has been mined commercially for its sulfur
content to produce sulfur.
Just say you saw it at The Discovery Center and read about it
on the Internet.
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