pyrite

Recorded since 1555, from Old French pyrite (12th century), from Latin pȳritēs, from Ancient Greek πυρίτης λίθος (purítēs líthos, “stone of fire, flint”) (so called because it glitters), notably the first part: adjective πυρίτης (purítēs, “of or in fire”), from πῦρ (pûr, “fire”). Analyzable as pyr- +‎ -ite

• IPA^(key): /ˈpaɪˌɹaɪt/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: py‧rite

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.
   • 1973, Chiao-min Hsieh, “Mining and Manufacturing”, in Christopher L. Salter, editor, Atlas of China‎^[1], McGraw-Hill, Inc., →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, →OL, page 100, column 1:

     The pyrite output in 1961 was 1.2 million tons, derived mainly from the Hsiang Shan mine in Anhwei and the Ying-te mine in Kwangtung.

   • 1978 November 9, K. P. Wang, “China's Mineral Economy”, in Chinese Economy Post-Mao: A Compendium of Papers‎^[2], Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, →OCLC, page 387:

     China's 13 large foreign fertilizer plants ordered a few years ago are all scheduled to be in operation in a year or two. […] China's biggest pyrite mine (openpit), being built in Yunfu, Kwangtung Province, was near completion.

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.

• fool's gold
• iron pyrites

• iron pyrite
• pyrrhotite

• pyr-
• pyric
• pyro-

• marcasite

• typier

• IPA^(key): /pi.ʁit/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: py‧rite

pyrite f (plural pyrites)

1. the metallic mineral pyrite

• pyrrhotite

• pyrique

• “pyrite”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.