Pyrite: A Natural History of Fool's GoldMost people have heard of pyrite, the brassy yellow mineral commonly known as fool's gold. But despite being the most common sulfide on the earth's surface, pyrite's bright crystals have attracted a noteworthy amount of attention from 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 history: it became an integral part of mining lore 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 makes appearances in our world. He follows pyrite back through the medieval alchemists to the ancient Arab, Chinese, Indian, and Classical worlds, showing why the mineral was central to the development of these various ancient cultures. Pyrite can be tracked to the beginnings of humankind, and Rickard reveals how it contributed to the origins of our art and storytelling and even to our biologic development as humans. |
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User Review - booktsunami - LibraryThingI found this a slightly frustrating book. One the one hand it is full of interesting information about the role of Pyrite in our world. On the other hand it tends to be repetitive, poorly edited and ... Read full review
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abundant acid mine drainage acid sulfate soils Agricola Albertus alchemists alchemy alum amount ancient Arabic atmosphere atoms basic biological black smoker burning carbon dioxide Chapter chemical chemistry coal color plate concentrations contain copper deep-ocean described diffraction dissolved early Earth electrons elements example ferric iron Figure fire formed fossils free radicals Frobisher geologic global heat Henckel human hydrogen sulfide hydrothermal vents idea increase industry iron and sulfur iron sulfide Lister marcasite massive pyrite deposits medieval metals microorganisms microscope million years ago mineral mining modern molecules natural occur oceans organic matter original oxidation of pyrite oxygen planet problem produced pyrite crystals pyrite cubes pyrite formation pyrite oxidation reaction result Rickard role seawater sedimentary rocks sediments shale showed solution stone strike-a-light stromatolites sulfate-reducing bacteria sulfur isotope sulfuric acid temperatures tion translation unit cell veins vitriol volcanic X-rays
Bibliographic information
| Title | Pyrite: A Natural History of Fool's Gold |
| Author | David Terence Rickard |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press, 2015 |
| ISBN | 0190203676, 9780190203672 |
| Length | 297 pages |
| Subjects | › › Science / Earth Sciences / Geology Science / Earth Sciences / Mineralogy |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |