 Pyrite beads are made from pyrite, which is a polymorph of marcasite, it is the one crystal that is most commonly mistaken for gold. Pyrite is derived from the Greek word "Pyr" (fire) because of the sparks that result when it is struck against steel. Because of this, Pyrite was commonly used in early firearms! While the color of pyrite bead may look very similar, Pyrite is actually much lighter and harder than real gold. Unlike real gold, Pyrite beads cannot be scratched with a fingernail because it is quite hard. An extremely common crystal, Pyrite is found in Illinois, Missouri, Peru, Germany, Russia, Spain and South America. |
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