: a common mineral that consists of iron disulfide, has a pale brass-yellow color and metallic luster, and is burned in making sulfur dioxide and sulfuric acid
Examples of pyrite in a Sentence
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These fossil remnants were surrounded by clay minerals as well as dolomite and pyrite.
—
Keith Cooper, Space.com, 25 Feb. 2025
The bronze mineral remains less prevalent than pyrite, a fellow iron sulfide known as fool’s gold.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 31 Dec. 2024
Finding ancient fossils that pyrite has preserved is rare because the process requires specific conditions: organic material, iron, and a lack of oxygen.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 29 Oct. 2024
Unlucky for the wee beast, yes, but the circumstances of its demise proved fortunate for paleontologists: Its body was encased in iron-rich, oxygen-poor sediment that fostered the formation of the mineral pyrite, also called fool’s gold, fossilizing the arthropod in opulent fashion.
—Christie Wilcox, science.org, 30 Oct. 2024
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Keith Cooper, Space.com, 25 Feb. 2025
The bronze mineral remains less prevalent than pyrite, a fellow iron sulfide known as fool’s gold.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 31 Dec. 2024
Finding ancient fossils that pyrite has preserved is rare because the process requires specific conditions: organic material, iron, and a lack of oxygen.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 29 Oct. 2024
Unlucky for the wee beast, yes, but the circumstances of its demise proved fortunate for paleontologists: Its body was encased in iron-rich, oxygen-poor sediment that fostered the formation of the mineral pyrite, also called fool’s gold, fossilizing the arthropod in opulent fashion.
—Christie Wilcox, science.org, 30 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for pyrite
Cite this Entry
“Pyrite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pyrite. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pyrite
noun
py·rite
ˈpī-ˌrīt 
: a common mineral that consists of iron combined with sulfur, has a pale brass-yellow color and metallic luster, and is used especially in making sulfuric acid
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