Piece of pyrite

A pyrite specimen from Peru with numerous small, cubic pyrite crystals. The cubes exhibit a radiant metallic, shiny surface and form a geometrically dense composition.

Pyrite (FeS₂) is an iron sulfide and crystallizes in the cubic system. The characteristic perfect cube shapes are formed when growth in hydrothermal solutions occurs slowly and with sufficient space. Peruvian pyrites are considered classically well-formed.

The natural specimen is unworked and shows the original crystallography. Each specimen varies slightly in size, cube distribution, and intensity of luster. A textbook sample for the cubic symmetry of iron sulfide.