Pyrite: A Natural History of Fool's Gold

by David Rickard

Most people have heard of pyrite, the brassy yellow mineral sometimes known as fool's gold. Pyrite behaves like stone and shines like metal, and its dual nature makes it a source of both metals and sulfur. Despite being the most common sulfide mineral on the earth's surface, pyrite's bright crystals have attracted the attention of many different cultures, and its nearly identical visual appearance to gold has led to tales of fraud, trickery, and claims of alchemy. Pyrite occupies a unique place in human it became an integral part of mining culture in America during the 19th century, and it has a presence in ancient Sumerian texts, Greek philosophy, and medieval poetry, becoming a symbol for anything overvalued.

In Pyrite , geochemist and author David Rickard blends basic science and historical narrative to describe the many unique ways pyrite is integral to our world. He explains the basic science of oxidation, showing us why the mineral looks like gold, and inspects death zones of present oceans where pyrite-related hydrogen sulfide destroys oxygen in the waters. Rickard analyzes pyrite's role in manufacturing sulfuric acid and discusses the significant appearance of the mineral in literature, history, and the development of societies. The mineral's influence extends from human evolution and culture, through science and industry, to our understanding of ancient, modern, and future earth environments. Energetic and accessible, Pyrite is the first book to show readers the history and science of a mineral that helped make the modern world.

Genres: Science, Geology

328 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2015

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a lifelong collector and student of rocks, I strongly recommend this book as a refreshing and informative understanding about pyrite. I have read more books and magazines about minerals than I remember, and this one is the clearest and yet very educational. Rickard covers pyrite's uses in industry, manufacturing , chemical composition, and in popular culture etc. It is accessible for an educated reader with at least a high school education and minimal knowledge of chemistry and geology. You don't have to be a geology major to appreciate this. Color photos included. A unique book on a very popular stone. (No collector mistakes it for gold).
The only issue is that nothing is written for the hobbyist who wants to know where and how to purchase or find pyrite-- clean and store in a collection. These aspects are always omitted from these books.

[Dana Nourie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is awesome! It has a ton of information, both historical and scientific, probably way more than most people want to know about pyrite. Pyrite is my favorite mineral. I have quite a bit of it, mostly in the gorgeous natural cube formation.

Pyrite literally is in every aspect of our lives, even if you don’t collect minerals, from the formation of life itself to the chemistry of land and sea. I learned a lot about its usefulness and its formation. I was super excited about seeing there was an entire book on pyrite and this author delivered in a big way.

I will definitely be referring back to it from time to time. It has a home on my shelf!

[Tyler M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately DNF, the author goes through endless brief aspects of the history and science of pyrite, but without any explanations. Without a little more detail or explanation I won't understand enough of this to remember anything outside of one or two random facts about pyrite :(

[Ted · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rickard loves pyrite, and his enthusiasm glisters throughout this book, especially in its early chapters. I'm not sure that he entirely convinced me of his stated thesis that pyrite “made the modern world,” but he certainly sold me on the book’s real (though less explicitly stated) argument that pyrite is pretty awesome and important.
I don't think many readers will dig (or even read) every page; some sections seem designed as an introduction to geology while others drill quite deep and require a fair bit of chemical and geological understanding. But if you're willing to pick up a book that you're unlikely to read cover to cover and if this title caught your eye, I'd recommend picking it up. Are you an intelligent grownup who had a rock collection as a kid, reads the information displays at national parks, hasn't thought much about minerals, but is curious about the natural world around you? You'll enjoy the first several chapters of this book. Are you already pretty informed about mineralogy and geochemistry? Here's an alternative to picking up Rickard's 800-page monograph.
I wrote about the book and its subject matter for The Behemoth, a magazine about awe and wonder.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a book billed as being for the "general reader," this is pretty intense. It's essentially a little bit of all the sciences and the history of science as seen through pyrite, which played a key role in the development of the modern chemical industry as well as Big Pharma (in both cases, as a source of sulfur). A reasonably well-educated and extremely patient reader will come away with some smattering of new scientific knowledge, some interesting anecdotes, and a new appreciation for "fool's gold" as being pretty far from worthless.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reviewed for Library Journal.