Pirita
Pirita is a mineral with formula FeS₂, in the Sulfuros group. This specimen comes from Kowala quarry, Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie, Polonia and joined the Terrium collection in 2026.
Description
Pyrite sphere (concretion) on a shale pedestal. Sculptural, architectural.
About Pirita
It does not depend on the buyer knowing Kowala or Devonian goniatites. The piece stands on its own.
About the locality
The black shales occasionally quarried at Kowala quarry are Devonian (Famennian) in age, c.370 million years old, and contain pyritised fossils such as goniatites, orthoceras, brachiopods and bivalves.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0372
- Composition
- FeS₂
- Name
- Pirita
- Group
- Sulfuros
- Category
- Estélites
- Matrix
- lutita
- Mine
- Kowala quarry
- District / Municipality
- Kielce County
- Province
- Świętokrzyskie
- Country
- Polonia
- Size (cm)
- 4.5 x 2 x 1
- Weight
- 20.6 g
- Acquired
- 2026
- Etymology
- From the Greek "sphaleros" (σφαλερός), meaning 'deceptive' or 'treacherous'. It was so named for its resemblance to galena, the principal ore of lead, yet it yielded no lead, to the frustration of ancient miners.
- Quality
- Top
- Value trend
- Al alza
Related specimens
- Acantita (Paramórfica tras Argentita) — Marruecos
- Barita — Polonia
- Calcopirita (Irisada) — Francia
- Cinabrio — Eslovenia
- Cinabrio — España
- Crisoprasa — Polonia
- Crisoprasa — Polonia
- Esfalerita (Cleiofana o Blenda acaramelada) — España