RAINBOW PYRITE
- Rainbow (iridescent) pyrite is a relatively new gemstone recently discovered in
Russia. This material comes in the form of “druzy” - a fine layer of miniature
crystals coating a matrix. It offers a shimmering rainbow of colors, including shades
of gold, green, pink and blue. This unique stone is found not far from Ulianovsk, on
Volga River.
- Pyrite itself is named for the Greek word for fire "Pyr," as it produces sparks when
it is struck with steel. Pyrite has an opaque, shiny, metallic luster and it can be
iridescent. It was polished by the Native Americans in early times and used as
mirrors. The typical color of pyrite is bright pale yellow to brass-yellow, gray-yellow
often tarnished with a brown film of iron oxide. Pyrite is also known as "Fool's Gold"
because it is often mistaken for gold, however the two are quite different and it is
not that difficult to distinguish one from the other. Pyrite grains are lighter and
tougher than gold, and has broken faces, properties that are not normally found in
gold.
- Pyrite is composed of iron sulfide (FeS2). It has a hardness of 6 - 6.5 on the Moh’s
Scale with a Refractive Index of 5.1. Occurrences of Pyrite have been reported
worldwide. Some of its major deposits are: USA, Peru, Germany, Russia, Spain, and
South Africa, however the rainbow pyrite is found only in Russia.
- Industrially, although Pyrite is common and contains a high percentage of iron, it has
never been used as a significant source of iron such as hematite and magnetite.
- Metaphysical properties of pyrite include its ability to promote psychic development,
improve memory, practicality, optimism, and strength of will. It is also said to open
the channels between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. This would allow us
to unfold and use our unique talents.
