Pyrite: Fool's Gold
Posted by Humberto Labaut on
Pyrite: Fool’s Gold
10 commonly asked questions
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Where does Pyrite come from?
- Pyrite can be found on many regions in the world such as Spain, Italy, Kazakhstan and in many states in the United States, but the most common Pyrite found in Crystal shops were imported from the Huaron mining District in Peru.
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What does metaphysical properties does Pyrite have?
- Pyrite is known as “fools gold” because of its golden shimmers but meditation and visualizing wealth using Pyrite is not a foolish way to be rich with abundance. In the metaphysical world Pyrite is most commonly used to attracted abundance and prosperity as well as self-confidence in those needing that extra boost to take the next step in life.
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What Chakra is Pyrite associated with?
- Pyrite is associated with the Solar Plexus and the Sacral Chakras.
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How can I cleanse Pyrite?
- Pyrite can be cleanse in the same ways as many others stones. Placing Pyrite in a bowl filled with rock salt, letting it bask under the moonlight or sunlight, and using other Crystals like Selenite are a few ways to cleanse Pyrite.
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Can Pyrite get wet?
- No! Exposing Pyrite to water or a damp environment for even a short period of time will cause it to break down rather quickly.
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Does Pyrite contain gold?
- Pyrite and Gold often form together or near each other so running into “fools gold” might lead to finding real gold. Sometimes Pyrite can contain %0.25 of its weight in gold or more, but this does not occur often and it is a very small percentage.
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What is the difference between Pyrite and Gold and why are they confused?
- To the untrained eye Gold and Pyrite are often confused due to their similar appearance and glimmer but they do have their differences. Gold is a metal, thus it has a pure structure making it harder to crack or break. Pyrite is a mineral and has more contaminations making it weaker and easier to break apart. Unlike Gold, Pyrite will show a blueish or purplish glare due to fusion with copper.
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Is Pyrite poisonous to humans?
- If given proper care Pyrite is not poisonous to humans, but if left to oxidize it releases toxins such as Arsenic which is known to be poisonous.
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How did Pyrite get its name?
- The Pyrite comes from the Greek word “Pyr” which translates to fire. Pyrite was given this name because it produces sparks when it is struck by steel.
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Any fun facts?
- Since Pyrite has a reflective surface many Native American Tribes used this stones surface as a mirror. Pyrite was also used as a source of ignition for firearms in the 1500’s and 1600’s.
1 comment
Thank you for your post! Could you share a little more about what steps to take to slow down or prevent oxidation of pyrite that could cause poisonous fumes to be released?