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pyreneite

A black variety of andradite garnet. Syn:melanite

pyrheliometer

An actinometer that measures the intensity of direct solar radiation.
AGI

pyribole

The pyroxene group plus amphibole group. See also:pyroxene

pyricaustate

A general name for a fossil combustible substance. Tomkeieff

pyrite

a. An isometric mineral, FeS2 ; dimorphous with marcasite; forms a
series with cattierite; crystallizes in cubes and pyritohedra; sparks
readily if struck by steel; metallic; pale bronze to brass yellow;
hardness varies from 6.0 to 6.5; occurs in veins, as magmatic segregation,
as accessory in igneous rocks, and in metamorphic rocks, in sedimentary
rocks including coal seams; a source of sulfur; may have included gold.
Syn:Alpine diamond; iron pyrite; fool's gold; mundic; common pyrite.
b. The mineral group aurostibite, bravoite, cattierite, erlichmanite,
fukuchilite, geversite, hauerite, insizwaite, krutaite, laurite, malanite,
maslovite, michenerite, penroseite, pyrite, sperrylite, testibiopalladite,
trogtalite, vaesite, and villamaninite.

pyrites

a. Various metallic-looking sulfide minerals including iron pyrites
(pyrite); copper pyrites (chalcopyrite); tin pyrites (stannite); white
iron, cockscomb, or spear pyrites (marcasite); arsenical pyrites
(arsenopyrite); cobalt pyrites (linnaeite); magnetic pyrites (pyrrhotite);
and capillary pyrites (millerite). Without qualification it popularly
refers to pyrite.
b. Stones that may be used for striking fire.

pyrites of copper

Common name for chalcopyrite. Weed, 1

pyritic

Of, pertaining to, resembling, or having the properties of pyrites.
Standard, 2

pyritic smelting

Smelting of sulfide copper ores, in which heat is supplied mainly by
oxidation of iron sulfide. Syn:oxidizing smelting

pyritic sulfur

The part of the sulfur in coal that is in the form of pyrites or
marcasite. BS, 1

pyritiferous

Containing or producing pyrite. Webster 3rd

pyritization

Introduction of or replacement by pyrite; e.g., the replacement of
original fossil material by pyrite. A common hydrothermal introduction of
pyrite specks in rock adjacent to veins.

pyritohedron

An isometric closed crystal form of 12 faces, each an irregular pentagon.
It is named after pyrite, which characteristically has this crystal form.
See also:rhombic dodecahedron CF:dodecahedron

pyroantimonite

See:kermesite

pyroaurite

A trigonal mineral, Mg6 Fe2 (CO3 )(OH)16 .4H
2 O ; hydrotalcite group; dimorphous with sjoegrenite; occurs in
goldlike submetallic scales, or brown crystals having pearly to greasy
luster. A silvery white variety is called igelstromite.

pyrobelonite

An orthorhombic mineral, PbMn(VO4 )(OH) ; descloizite group; forms
minute fire-red acicular crystals at Laangban, Sweden; a source of
vanadium.

pyrobitumen

Any of the dark-colored, fairly hard, nonvolatile, carbon-rich material
substances composed of hydrocarbon complexes, which may or may not contain
oxygenated substances and are often associated with mineral matter. The
nonmineral constituents are infusible, insoluble in water, and relatively
insoluble in carbon disulfide. AGI

pyrobituminous

Pertaining to substances that yield bitumens upon heating. AGI

pyrochlore

a. An isometric mineral, (Ca,Na)2 Nb2 O6 (OH,F) ;
forms a series with microlite; in pegmatites in Maine, California,
Colorado, Africa, and Europe; a source of niobium. Syn:pyrrhite
b. The mineral group including the betafite subgroup betafite,
plumbobetafite, and yttrobetafite; the microlite subgroup bariomicrolite,
bismutomicrolite, microlite, plumbomicrolite, and uranmicrolite; and the
pyrochlore subgroup bariopyrochlore, ceriopyrochlore, kalipyrochlore,
plumbopyrochlore, uranpyrochlore, and yttropyrochlore.

pyrochroite

A trigonal mineral, Mn(OH)2 ; brucite group; soft; pearly white
darkening on exposure; has perfect basal cleavage.

pyroclast

An individual particle ejected during a volcanic eruption. It is usually
classified according to size. AGI