232 PETALS. 



Pyrites sometimes contains a minute quantity of gold, and 

 is then called auriferous pyrites. 



Dif. Distinguished from copper pyrites in being too hard 

 to be cut by a knife, and also in its paler color. The ores 

 "of silver, at all approaching pyrites, instead of having its 

 pale bronze-yellow color, are steel-gray or nearly black ; 

 and besides, they are easily cut with a knife and quite fusi- 

 ble. Gold is sectile and malleable ; and besides, it does not 

 give off* a sulphur odor before the blowpipe, like pyrites. 



Oos. Iron pyrites is one of the most common ores on the 

 globe. It occurs in rocks of all ages. Cornwall, Elba, 

 Piedmont, Sweden, Brazil, and Peru, have afforded magnifi- 

 cent crystals. Alston Moor, Derbyshire, Kongsberg in Nor- 

 way, are well known localities. It has also been observed 

 in the Vesuvian lavas. 



In the United States, the localities are numerous. Fine 

 crystals have been met with at Rossie, N. Y. ; also in New 

 York state at Scoharie, at Johnsburg and Chester, Warren 

 county ; at Champion and near Oxbow, in Jefferson county ; 

 at Warwick and Deerpark, Orange county. . In Vermont, 

 crystals occur at Shoreham ; in Massachusetts, at Heath, 

 Bane, and Boxborough ; in Maine, at Corinna, Peru, Wa- 

 terville and Farmington ; in Connecticut, at Monroe, Orange, 

 Miiford and Stafford ; in Pennsylvania, at Little Britain, 

 Lancaster county. Massive pyrites occurs in Connecticut at 

 Colchester, Ashford, Tolland, Stafford, and Union ; in Mas- 

 sachusetts, at Hawley and Hubbardston ; in Maine, at Bing- 

 ham, Brooksville, and Jewell's Island ; in New Hampshire, 

 at Unity ; in Vermont, at Strafford, where there is a vein in 

 mica slate four rods wide, and also abundantly at Woodbury, 

 and other places ; in New York, in Franklin, Putnam and 

 Orange counties, and elsewhere ; in Maryland, abundant and 

 worked at Cape Sable. 



Uses. This species is of the highest importance in the 

 arts, although not affording good iron on account of the diffi- 

 culty of separating entirely the sulphur. It affords the 

 greater part of the sulphate of iron (green vitriol or copper- 

 as) and sulphuric acid (oil of vitriol) of commerce, and also 

 a considerable portion of the sulphur and alum. The py- 



How is iron pyrites distinguished from copper pyrites 1 from silver 

 ores] from gold ? *W hat is said of the occurrence of pyrites ? Why 

 docs not this ore afford good iron ? What are its uses ? How is vitriol 

 obtained from it ? 



