: It commonly forms perfect cubic, octahedral, or pyritohedral (12-faced) crystals.
), is the most abundant sulfide mineral in the Earth's crust. While it earned its nickname by deceiving 19th-century gold rush prospectors, it has since been recognized as a cornerstone of human industrial and scientific progress. Chemical and Physical Properties Fools Gold
: Derived from the Greek word pyr ("fire"), pyrite produces sparks when struck against steel, a property used by ancient civilizations for fire-starting. Geological Formation and Occurrences : It commonly forms perfect cubic, octahedral, or