pyrite

English

Pyrite

Etymology

Wikipedia

recorded since 1555, from Old French (=modern) pyrite (12c.), from Latin pyrites, from Ancient Greek πυρίτης λιθός (pyrites lithos) "stone of fire, flint" (so called because it glitters), notably the first part: adjective πυρίτης (puritēs, “of or in fire”), from πῦρ (pur, “fire”)

Noun

pyrite (plural pyrites)

1. (mineralogy) The common mineral iron disulfide (FeS₂), of a pale brass-yellow color and brilliant metallic luster, crystallizing in the isometric system.
2. (usually as a plural: pyrites) Any metallic-looking sulphide, such as the above, which is the most common.
3. (solid state chemistry) (usually as a plural: pyrites) Any metal dichalcogenide that is isostructural to the common mineral.

   Copper diselenide can occur both as a marcasite and a pyrite.

Synonyms

• fool's gold
• iron pyrites

Derived terms

• chalcopyrite
• pyritic
• white iron pyrite

Related terms

• pyr-
• pyric
• pyro-

Translations

mineral iron disulfide

• Dutch: pyriet (nl) n
• Esperanto: pirito (eo)
• Estonian: püriit (et)
• Finnish: pyriitti (fi)
• French: pyrite (fr) f
• German: Pyrit (de) n
• Greek: πυρίτης (el) (pyrítis) m

• Irish: pirít (ga) f, iarnphirít (ga) f, bréagór (ga) m
• Italian: pirite (it) f
• Polish: piryt (pl) m
• Romanian: pirită (ro) f
• Russian: пирит (ru) (pirít) m
• Spanish: pirita (es) f
• Swedish: pyrit (sv) c, svavelkis (sv) c

See also

• marcasite

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French

Noun

pyrite m (plural pyrites)

1. The metallic mineral pyrite

Related terms

• pyrique