How Much Does Pyrite Cost?


Written by:  Howmuchisit.org Staff

­Pyrite, the most common sulfide material,  comes from a Greek word meaning “a stone which strikes fire.”

Its metallic luster and brass-yellow color has earned it the moniker you have probably heard before, “fool’s gold.

Being used as an ore of iron for centuries, pyrite can be found in some jewelry or as a novelty collector’s item.

Pyrite by GorissenM, on Flickr
Pyrite” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by  GorissenM

How much does pyrite cost?

The cost of pyrite will depend on how you want to purchase.  On the market, it can come either a specimen, as a gemstone, in cabochon form or as a rough piece, as found in nature.  Refer to our table below to see what it may cost you:

FormAverage Price
Pyrite Specimen$0.30 to $0.65 per carat
Pyrite Gemstone $5 to $8 per carat
Pyrite Cabochon$1 per carat
Rough Pyrite$0.03 to $0.05 per carat
Pyrite Fool's Gold Nuggets$10 per 1/2 pound

At Amazon.com, for example, a pound of unpolished iron pyrite costs close to $10 while a one pound bulk pack retails for about the same price.

Many people often think that fool’s gold has no value, but this often is not the case.  If you have found pyrite, it may be worth a little more than you think.  Some pyrite, according to Geology.com, can actually contain traces of gold, increasing the price to close to $1,500 per troy ounce if the pyrite contains 0.25 percent gold.  This means one ton, which will contain about 73 troy ounces, will be worth more than $109,000.




Tips to know:

Iron pyrite products may be bought in bags in a nugget form, by the piece or as a rock in its natural state.  It’s also used as a gemstone, often fashioned into beads, cut into cabochons, carved into shapes or faceted.  However, due to it easily becoming tarnished, it’s often not used as a jewelry stone.

Some pyrite stones being sold online are in their original form, which means that buyers receive them exactly how they came out of the ground.  These varieties are touted to be ideal for cabbing, wire wrapping, tumbling or keeping the rock’s natural state as a decorative rock.

Pyrite can be used to start a fire.  This is done by hitting two pyrite rocks together, which then produces sparks.  Flint can also be used together with a pyrite rock to start a fire.

Tumbled pyrite spheres are sometimes sold as healing materials.  Healers claim the stones have the ability to activate the solar plexus chakra, base or root chakra. The stones are also said to stimulate creativity, enhance willpower and self-confidence, and can increase brain function.

According to some, pyrite does have a few special qualities.  “Iron Pyrite, for example, makes a wonderful energy shield, blocking out negativity from various sources. Some of its properties include that it can overcome inertia and feelings of inadequacy, it can energize the area where you place it (such as on a desk where you work), and it can even help you see behind a facade.”

According to about.com, pyrite”radiates optimistic and cheerful energy that is also solid and grounding.  Pyrite is very protective and can shield you from negative energies while promoting a happy and cheerful state of being.  The versatile pyrite can also share its qualities of shine and solid brightness to facilitate a better judgment and a clear mental state.  It is an excellent stone to help with any business endeavors, as well as academic pursuits.  Pyrite will give you the optimism, the clarity, as well as the physical stamina necessary to pursue any of your endeavors.”

The pyrite hardness is 6 to 6.5, according to Minerals.net.

Gold vs pyrite — what’s the difference?

The shine

When viewing fool’s gold by the naked eye, it will “glisten,” not shine.  The edges will also look sharp, separated by layers if you examine closely.  Gold, on the other hand, has a shine to it and will shine at all angles.

Does it scratch?

If you have a piece of copper handy, scratch the copper with the gold in question  If the gold scratches, then it’s pyrite since it’s harder than copper.

The residue

When rubbed against porcelain, according to HomeGrownFun.com, gold will leave a pure yellow residue, while pyrite will leave a greenish-black powdery residue.

Edges

Pyrite will have much sharper edges than gold, which will have a rounder-like edge.


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Average Reported Cost: $3

100 %
0 %
Less Expensive $1 $1.5K $3K $5K $6.5K More Expensive $8k

How much did you spend?

Was it worth it?  

  1. cole paid $6 and said: said:

    Was it worth it? Yes

  2. Sandi d (Wichita falls ,  Texas) paid $0 and said:

    It was a gift brought to me from either Dakota or Montana area from a truck driver friend

    Was it worth it? Yes

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