pyrites
/pʌɪˈrʌɪtiːz
/(also iron pyrites; Mineralogy pyrite)
noun [mass noun]
A shiny yellow mineral consisting of iron disulphide and typically occurring as intersecting cubic crystals. See also copper pyrites.In terms of finance alone, last night was the difference between digging gold or iron pyrites....
- The mordenite is associated with a hemispherical form of pale yellow calcite and cubic pyrite.
- Many conclude that because pyrite is cubic, pyrrhotite must be hexagonal, as it often appears.
Derivatives
pyritic
- Its down-dip sulfide ores were sideritic and pyritic, with golden barite forming one of the gangue minerals.
- The beds at this level are distinctly pyritic and the basal Psiloceras-bearing limestone is underlain by a 20 m thick black shale.
- The mill produced a lead concentrate, a zinc concentrate, and pyritic tailings.
pyritization
pyritize
- Because the latter conditions were favorable for the formation of iron sulfides, the fossils were pyritized.
- Pyrite is ubiquitous in marine sediments - so why are pyritised soft-bodied fossils so rare?
- Many of the stelleroids are relatively complete, but flattened and pyritized, although preservation of some specimens is exquisite.
pyritous
Origin
Late Middle English (denoting a mineral used for kindling fire): via Latin from Greek puritēs 'of fire', from pur 'fire'.