I'm totally confused with this topic..not sure if it's science or whatnot..
Pyrite/ fool's gold yep then comes the weirdness...I saw some jewlery sold as having "marcasite". But I do know from somewhere which I can't remember anymore that marcasite is actually pyrite. But when I looked up marcasite on wikipedia since I was curious on this topic, It said..very confusingly first of all in the first paragraph...
"The mineral marcasite, sometimes called white iron pyrite, is iron sulfide (FeS2). Marcasite is often mistakenly confused with pyrite, but marcasite is lighter and more brittle. Specimens of marcasite often crumble and break up due to the unstable crystal structure, and it is this crystal structure that is the main difference between marcasite and pyrite. Though marcasite has the same chemical formula as pyrite, it crystallizes in a different crystal system, thereby making it a separate mineral. In jewelry, pyrite used as a gem is improperly termed "marcasite". This is wholly incorrect, as marcasite is never used as a gem.
Is this confusing or is it just me..the paragraph contradicts itself at the end...
can anybody explain this to me how Is marcasite or Is it Not pyrite?
I looked at "Fool's Gold" under Google.com and found the following. It is a little better understood than the reference you found in the same journal, Wikipedia.
Pyrite and marcasite
Pyrite is often confused with the mineral marcasite, a name derived from the Arabic word for pyrite, due to their similar characteristics. Marcasite is a polymorph of pyrite, which means it has the same formula as pyrite but a different structure and, therefore, different symmetry and crystal shapes. The formal oxidation states are, however, the same as in pyrite because again the sulfur atoms occur in persulfide-like pairs. Marcasite/pyrite is probably the most famous polymorph pair next to the diamond/graphite pair. Appearance is slightly more silver.Marcasite is metastable relative to pyrite and will slowly be changed to pyrite if heated or given enough time. Marcasite is relatively rare, but may be locally abundant in some types of ore deposits, such as Mississippi Valley-type Pb-Zn deposits. Marcasite appears to form only from aqueous solutions.
Pyrite is often used in jewellery such as necklaces and bracelets, but although the two are similar, marcasite cannot be used in jewelery as it has a tendency to crumble into powder. note this Adding to the confusion between marcasite and pyrite is the use of the word marcasite as a jewellery trade name. The term is applied to small polished and faceted stones that are inlaid in sterling silver, but even though they are called marcasite, they are actually pyrite.
I trust this explains it all; i.e., it's a trade name.
It's false advertising...
Thanks Dr.Bob=D
I understand your confusion regarding the topic of pyrite and marcasite. Let me try to explain it step-by-step to clear things up.
1. Pyrite and marcasite are minerals that both have the chemical formula FeS2, which means they consist of iron and sulfur.
2. Although they have the same chemical composition, they crystallize in different crystal systems, giving them different physical properties.
3. Pyrite is commonly known as "fool's gold" because of its metallic luster that resembles gold. It is often used in jewelry and can be polished and faceted for decorative purposes.
4. On the other hand, marcasite is lighter and more brittle than pyrite. The unstable crystal structure of marcasite makes it prone to crumbling and breaking up. Because of this, marcasite is not used in jewelry as it cannot withstand wear and tear.
5. However, there is some confusion in the jewelry trade. Some jewelry pieces that are marketed as having "marcasite" are actually made with pyrite. Jewelers use the term "marcasite" as a trade name for small, polished, and faceted pyrite gemstones that are set into sterling silver.
In summary, marcasite and pyrite have similar chemical compositions but different crystal structures and physical properties. Pyrite is commonly used in jewelry, whereas marcasite is not. The term "marcasite" is sometimes used incorrectly in the jewelry trade to refer to pyrite gemstones.
The confusion arises because marcasite is sometimes used as a trade name in the jewelry industry, even though it is not actually marcasite but pyrite that is used.
To clarify, pyrite and marcasite are chemically the same, both being iron sulfide with the chemical formula FeS2. However, they have different crystal structures and physical properties. Marcasite has a different crystal system and is lighter and more brittle compared to pyrite. It has an unstable crystal structure, which causes specimens of marcasite to crumble and break up.
In the jewelry industry, pyrite is often referred to as marcasite, but this is incorrect. Genuine marcasite is not used as a gem in jewelry due to its tendency to crumble. Instead, pyrite is used as a substitute for marcasite in jewelry pieces labeled as marcasite.
So, in summary, marcasite is not actually pyrite, but in the jewelry trade, pyrite is sometimes referred to as marcasite. This can lead to confusion and false advertising, as consumers may expect genuine marcasite when purchasing jewelry labeled as such.