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Microscope Mondays 2020-03-16: Pyrite

Brought to you by the Frog On A Log Project Happy Monday all. You may be self-isolating at the moment, you may be at the office on a Monday, regardless here are some high magnification images to help you pass some time.

This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

Brought to you by the Frog On A Log Project

Happy Monday all.
You may be self-isolating at the moment, you may be at the office on a Monday, regardless here are some high magnification images to help you pass some time.

Today's subject is Pyrite, Iron Sulfide, Fools Gold, FeS2

Pyrite is found everywhere on Earth. Sometimes found in as large crystals and other times in localized thin films on other minerals. Go hike some of the local peaks here in Colorado and pick up a reddish or orange-tinted rock, chances are those tiny little golden flecks on said rock are pyrite.

One of the interesting parts of Pyrite is that it has a simple cubic crystalline structure. You will be able to see that cubic structure self propagate from crystals several centimeters across down to the nanometer scale.

If you'd like to learn more about pyrite here are links to wikipedia.org and geology.com
If you would like to see a larger library of SEM images of pyrite come check us out on Facebook.

About Frog On A Log Project:
Our primary mission is to provide high-resolution high magnification microscope images with enough reference material that said images can be of use by teachers and students.

If you'd like to see more follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/frogonalogproject/
For more information about Frog On A Log Project come visit us at https://frogonalogproject.org