Known as "the poor man's gold" due to its resemblance to this precious mineral, it belongs to the sulfide minerals category.
It is composed of sulfur and iron, fine-grained and massive and is practically opaque.
It is usually found in cubic pieces, although sometimes it can occur in octahedrons or pyritohedrons.
The name pyrite comes from the Greek pyros (fire), a name that refers to the ability of this mineral to generate sparks when struck with metal. Pyrite is the most abundant sulfide on the planet and can form in a large number of environments. Its chemical formula is FeS2.
Pyrite is one of the most widely used minerals for mining and in the chemical industry. It is mainly used to create sulfuric acid, which is obtained by heating the mineral at high temperatures, in the presence of oxygen, to give off sulfur dioxide (SO2), which is then artificially transformed into sulfur trioxide (SO3), to which water is added to transform it into sulfuric acid.
Pyrite was polished by Native Americans in early times and used as mirrors. Nowadays, it is also used as an ornamental stone, being also a very popular stone for amateur collectors.
In Spain, the greatest presence of pyrite can be found in the Cameros Basin, in the valleys of the Alhama and Linares rivers. The most important deposits are those of Navajún, Ambasaguas, Villariño, Armejún, Umbría de la Tardía and Canales de la Sierra.
The stamp that Correos dedicates to this mineral shows an image of a piece of pyrite, with its peculiar golden color and its shape with linear cuts in the shape of a cube.
