Pyrite Beads
Pyrite beads are iron sulfide, the brassy metallic mineral known as fool's gold, cut either from solid pyrite or from host stones such as quartz, jade and hackmanite that carry pyrite crystals inside them. This collection holds natural pyrite, mostly as inclusions in those host stones, in a range of finishes and shapes for bracelets, necklaces and earrings.
Appearance
Solid pyrite is a pale brass yellow with a bright metallic luster. In pyrite in quartz the metal appears as gold flecks and veins inside clear or milky quartz; in jade with pyrite the flecks sit in a green stone; and in hackmanite with pyrite they dot a white to lavender sodalite that can shift color after time in sunlight. The amount of pyrite varies a great deal from bead to bead, and some beads in a strand may show little or none.
A polished finish brings up the metallic shine of the pyrite and gives the host stone a glassy depth. Pyrite is 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale but brittle, and it tarnishes: moisture and air slowly dull the brass to a darker bronze, and in damp storage the surface can develop a powdery film. Keep pyrite jewelry dry, take it off before washing or swimming, and store it in a closed container.
Formation and origin
Pyrite forms in almost every geological setting, from hot hydrothermal veins to cold seafloor mud, wherever iron and sulfur meet in oxygen-poor conditions. Its cubic crystals are so common that it was long mistaken for gold, though pyrite is harder, lighter and brass-colored rather than yellow. Most pyrite in the bead trade comes from Peru, with important crystals from Spain and China. Hackmanite is a variety of sodalite from Afghanistan, Myanmar and Canada whose color fades or deepens with ultraviolet light, an effect called tenebrescence. Marcasite jewelry, despite the name, is nearly always cut from pyrite.
Pairings
Citrine beads: golden yellow quartz echoes the brass of pyrite and keeps a strand in warm, bright tones.
Selenite beads: pearly white gypsum that sets off gold flecks, with the same need to be kept dry.
Serpentine beads: yellow-green serpentine alongside pyrite in jade keeps the green and gold together.
Lore and Meaning
Pyrite meaning in crystal traditions is tied to wealth, ambition and protection, and it has long been carried as a token of good fortune. Polished pyrite mirrors have been found at Inca and other pre-Columbian sites, and its name comes from the Greek word for fire, since it sparks when struck against steel. It is associated with willpower and the solar plexus chakra. These are traditional beliefs, not claims of physical effect.
