Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

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.

A variety of shale or clay slate, containing iron pyrites, the decomposition of which leads to the formation of alum, which often effloresces on the rock.

From Project Gutenberg

The specimens procured from the Cape were clay-slate, much intermixed with iron pyrites, and crossed by small veins of white quartz.

From Project Gutenberg

Gold and iron pyrites, therefore, need never be mistaken for each other by any man who has a piece of steel about him.

From Project Gutenberg

There, close to the boundary of the province of Manila and district of Moron, I found a face of disintegrated quartz glittering with large crystals of iron pyrites.

From Project Gutenberg

Where you're to blame is for having gone off on a wild-goose chase and left the claims and then been bamboozled by such nonsense as sacks full of iron pyrites.

From Project Gutenberg