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232 METALS. 



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. 



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

 globe. It occurs in rocks of all ages. 1 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. iFine 

 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, 

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

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

 Milford 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 ? from silver 

 ores? from gold ? What 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 ? 



