What is 'fools gold' and is it anything like real gold?

"Fool's Gold," more scientifically known as pyrite, is a mineral with a metallic luster that bears a superficial resemblance to real gold, which has led to its nickname.

Its chemical formula is FeS₂, indicating it's a compound of iron and sulfur. Pyrite forms under a variety of geological conditions in many different types of rocks, and it's often found in quartz veins, sometimes alongside real gold. Pyrite's shiny, metallic luster and brassy yellow hue can easily catch the eye of an aspiring treasure hunter.

However, unlike gold, pyrite is hard, brittle, and forms in crystalline structures rather than the malleable nuggets or flakes of real gold.

Though Fool's Gold and real gold look somewhat similar to the untrained eye, their similarities end at their color and luster. Gold is an elemental metal (with the symbol Au) known for its softness, malleability, and resistance to tarnish and corrosion. These properties have made gold highly valued throughout human history for jewelry, coinage, and various forms of artwork.

On the other hand, pyrite's brittle nature makes it crack, shatter, or create sparks when struck against metal or stone, which is starkly different from gold's behavior. Additionally, pyrite oxidizes or tarnishes when exposed to air or moisture, forming a rusty exterior, a phenomenon that real gold is immune to.

The differences between Fool's Gold and real gold extend to their applications and value as well. Gold has been a symbol of wealth for centuries and is used in a variety of modern applications including electronics due to its excellent conductivity, and in dentistry and medicine due to its biocompatibility.

Pyrite, while not valuable like gold, has its uses too. It was historically used to create sparks for starting fires when struck against metal or stone, and during the early 20th century, it was mined as a source of sulfur, which can be used to produce sulfuric acid, an essential industrial chemical.