by Con Slobodchikoff
Pyrite is a yellow-gold or silver-gold mineral that is found world-wide in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. Particularly good specimens come from Spain, Mexico, Peru, Italy, France, and Colorado in the United States. It is an iron sulfide, with a hardness of 6-6.5, a density of 5-5.2, and a crystal structure that is either cubic or pyritohedral (12 faces each with 5 edges).
The name comes from the Greek, Pyr, meaning fire. This is because pyrite will produce sparks when struck against a hard surface, particularly against steel. Legends and myths suggest that Pyrite was considered to be a magical firestone in the Stone Age, when it was used to help produce fire.
Pyrite is also sometimes called “Fool’s Gold” because it often has a yellow-gold color, and stories abound of people salting mines with pyrite and then claiming that they had struck a vein of gold. Naïve investors are said to have sunk money into such supposed gold mines, making fools out of themselves and enriching unscrupulous prospectors.
In the jewelry trade, Pyrite is sometimes called Marcasite, which is a mineral that has the same chemical composition but a different crystalline structure. However, true Marcasite is not as stable as Pyrite, and often decomposes in air, becoming covered with a white iron sulfate powder. True Pyrite on the other hand is quite stable in air and does not decompose. Almost all of the jewelry labeled as Marcasite is actually Pyrite.
In ancient cultures, Pyrite was used by the Greeks, the Romans and the Incas for jewelry. The Incas made reflective mirrors out of Pyrite, using these for divination.
Pyrite is said to have a number of beneficial properties. It is said that it improves memory, and is good for intellectual and nervous fatigue resulting from overwork. Holding a piece of Pyrite in each hand during meditation is said to produce a burst of vitality and physical energy, and enhances creativity and mental clarity.
On a physical level, Pyrite is said to have some healing properties. It is said that it helps repair DNA and RNA, helps stimulate endocrine function, and when worn as a pendant, is said to help fight infections of the respiratory tract.
In a metaphysical sense, the stone is said to be associated with the third chakra, and is said to bring balance and harmony to the aura, protecting a person from negative energies in the environment. It is said to be associated with masculine energy, bringing balance to those who need to develop more willpower, confidence, and vitality.
The pyrite cabochons that we sell at Heart of Stone Studio are really pyrite in quartz. In these cabs, gleaming silvery pyrite particles float serenely in a quartz matrix that is colored a dark charcoal due to the presence of another mineral. Some of these pieces are partially translucent. All of them combine the metaphysical properties of pyrite with those of its more famous healing cousin, quartz, the same material that composes healing crystals. These cabs are particularly well-adapted for either jewelry or metaphysical uses. Because one side is flat, they can easily be laid down on the chakras. They can be crafted into jewelry, and can also be conveniently put into a pocket or a purse. They can easily be held in the hand during meditation.
Sources:
Hall, C: Gemstones; Harding: Crystals; Megemont: The Metaphysical Book of Gems and Crystals; Melody: Love Is In The Earth; O’Donoghue: Rocks and Minerals; Peschek-Bohmer and Schreiber: Healing Crystals and Gemstones; Schumann, Gemstones of the World; Simmons and Ahsian: The Book of Stones; Walker: The Book of Sacred Stones
could u say if pyrite is conductive or not?
Posted by: anonymous | January 12, 2010 at 12:44 PM