WholesalePyrite

Brassy, metallic and heavy. Pyrite on basalt, polished pieces and Canadian chalcopyrite from Sudbury.

Ways to shop

Shop pyrite by form

Pyrite on Basalt Specimen on Stand #5 - 4-7"

Stone notes

Pyrite: fool's gold with perfect corners

A common iron mineral that grows cubes so neat they look machined, and has fooled prospectors for centuries.

Pyrite is iron sulphide, one of the most common sulphide minerals in the Earth's crust. Its name comes from the Greek word for fire, because a piece struck against steel or flint throws sparks. Its nickname, fool's gold, comes from the brassy shine that has sent many prospectors home disappointed.

Telling the two apart is simple once you know how. Gold is soft and bends; pyrite is hard and brittle and shatters if you hit it. Rub pyrite across unglazed porcelain and it leaves a greenish-black streak, where gold leaves a gold one. And pyrite is far more common.

Pyrite is famous for its crystal shapes. It grows as cubes with flat, mirror-like faces, as twelve-sided crystals called pyritohedrons, and as glittering crusts of small crystals on rock. Our pyrite on basalt is the last kind, sparkling crystals spread over dark volcanic rock.

Its close relative chalcopyrite is copper iron sulphide, one of the world's main copper ores. The Sudbury Basin in Ontario is one of the great nickel and copper mining districts on Earth, and our Silver in Chalcopyrite specimens come from there. For a Canadian shop, that local story is a strong reason to stock them.

Gold bends. Pyrite shatters. That is the oldest test in prospecting.

About the stone

What is pyrite?

Pyrite is iron sulphide, the brassy metallic mineral known as fool's gold. It is hard (6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale) but brittle, heavy for its size, and grows as cubes, twelve-sided crystals and sparkling crusts on rock.

What we stock

Pyrite on basalt by size and on stands, pyrite beads, bracelets, pendulums and worry stones, pyrite in iron matrix tumbled stones, pyrite-on-matrix chips, and Silver in Chalcopyrite specimens from Sudbury, Ontario.

Keep it dry

Pyrite does not like damp. Store it dry, dust it rather than washing it, and never use it in water.

Reading our titles

Size numbers (#1 to #5) are size bands. "Unique #" or "U#" marks a one-of-a-kind piece with its own photos and size. "(Enhanced)" means the piece has been treated.

Mineral: Pyrite, iron sulphide
Hardness: 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale; brittle
Colour: Pale brass-yellow with a metallic shine; greenish-black streak
Habit: Cubes, twelve-sided crystals and sparkling crusts on rock
Main sources: Peru, Spain, China, India and many mining areas worldwide

Varieties

Kinds of pyrite we stock

Pyrite and its copper-bearing cousin, in the forms shops sell most.

Photos are real pieces from our stock. Tap a variety to see what is in stock now.

In crystal traditions

What pyrite is traditionally used for

In crystal traditions pyrite is the stone of abundance and drive, kept on desks and near tills for business luck. Its shine has made it a symbol of wealth for a long time.

AbundanceConfidenceWillpowerProtectionChakra: Solar plexusZodiac: Leo

Traditional associations, shared as folklore. They are not health or medical claims.

Gold or not?

Pyrite, chalcopyrite or gold?

Three yellow metallic minerals, and an easy way to tell them apart.

	Pyrite	Chalcopyrite	Gold
What it is	Iron sulphide	Copper iron sulphide	Native metal
Colour	Pale brass-yellow	Deeper brassy yellow, often tarnished blue, purple or green	Rich golden yellow
Hardness	6 to 6.5 (brittle)	3.5 to 4 (brittle)	2.5 to 3 (bends)
Streak on porcelain	Greenish-black	Greenish-black	Golden yellow
Crystal shapes	Cubes, pyritohedrons, crusts	Mostly masses and crusts	Grains, nuggets, flakes

Real, treated or fake?

Real pyrite is cold, heavy for its size and brittle. Painted rock or metal castings feel lighter or warmer and show other colours where they chip.
Some pyrite on the market is coated or polished to stay bright. Chalcopyrite is often treated to bring out iridescent colours; our titles say "(Enhanced)" when a piece is treated.
A rainbow of blue, purple and gold on pyrite can be natural tarnish, but very even bright colour is usually a coating.

Care and cleaning

Keep pyrite dry. In damp air some pyrite slowly tarnishes and can break down, leaving a white powder and a sulphur smell. A cupboard with a silica gel pack is ideal.
Do not wash pyrite. Dust it with a dry, soft brush or cloth.
Never put pyrite in water or drinks.
Pyrite is brittle; corners and edges chip if pieces knock together. Wrap specimens on their own for shipping.

How shops sell pyrite

Pyrite is a business-luck gift. Keep a small display near the till or in a "for the office" corner.
Specimens on stands are ready to sell as gifts; no extra display props needed.
Tell the Sudbury story. Canadian customers like knowing their chalcopyrite came from an Ontario mining town.
The Pyrite Essentials bundle gives a shop a starter range in one order, and Pyrite meaning cards come in 10-packs.

Apply for wholesale pricing

On the shelf

How to display pyrite

Pyrite sells on sparkle. Give it a point of light and a dark background.

Spotlight itA small spotlight or a sunny shelf makes the crystal faces flash. Under flat light pyrite can look grey.
Dark backgroundBlack slate, dark wood or a navy cloth makes the brass colour stand out.
Keep it dryDo not display pyrite next to water features or in a damp window. Humidity dulls it over time.
Group by sizeLine up pyrite on basalt from size 1 to 5 so the step-up in sparkle and price is easy to see.

Questions

Pyrite FAQ

Is pyrite real gold?

No. Pyrite is iron sulphide. It looks golden, which is why it is called fool's gold, but it is harder, brittle and leaves a greenish-black streak instead of a gold one.

Why does pyrite sometimes turn dull or powdery?

In damp air some pyrite reacts with moisture and slowly breaks down. Keep it dry, out of bathrooms and away from humidifiers.

Can pyrite go in water?

No. Do not wash pyrite or use it in water or drinks. Dust it with a dry cloth instead.

What is chalcopyrite?

Chalcopyrite is copper iron sulphide, one of the world's main copper ores. Our Silver in Chalcopyrite specimens come from the Sudbury mining district in Ontario.

What is pyrite on basalt?

Small pyrite crystals that grew as a sparkling crust on dark volcanic rock (basalt). It is sold in size bands and on stands.

Can I buy pyrite without a minimum order?

Yes. There is no minimum order. Approved wholesale customers see their wholesale price on every product once signed in.

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