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iron pyrites

American  

noun

  1. pyrite; fool's gold.

  2. marcasite.


iron pyrites British  
/ ˈpaɪraɪts /

noun

  1. another name for pyrite

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of iron pyrites

First recorded in 1795–1805

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Now, iron pyrites is harder than steel, and therefore a knife will fail to scratch it.

From Harper's New Monthly Magazine Vol. IV, No. 19, Dec 1851 by Various

"Oh, it is gold!" exclaimed Jake, as Bob took the bag and bent over it; "it is not iron pyrites."

From The Haunted Mine by Castlemon, Harry

At Kar Nicobar small quantities of iron pyrites are found.

From In the Andamans and Nicobars The Narrative of a Cruise in the Schooner "Terrapin" by Kloss, C. Boden

Sulphur in iron pyrites also acts as a reducing agent upon litharge, and increases the apparent effect in a similar manner.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 3 "Frost" to "Fyzabad" by Various

These balls are made of small bags or purses of hide, moistened, filled with iron pyrites, or some other heavy substance, and then dried.

From Narrative of the surveying voyages of His Majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle, between the years 1826 and 1836 Volume I. - Proceedings of the First Expedition, 1826-1830 by Fitzroy, Robert