Pyrite Inclusions (Not an insect)

Scientific Name: FeS2 (Iron Disulfide)

Order & Family: Mineral: Sulfide mineral

Size: Microscopic to several centimeters (crystals)

Pyrite Inclusions (Not an insect)

Natural Habitat

Found embedded within metamorphic rocks like Lapis Lazuli, sedimentary rocks, and hydrothermal veins.

Diet & Feeding

N/A (Inorganic mineral)

Behavior Patterns

Forms cubic, octahedral, or pyritohedral crystals. Often mistaken for gold ('Fool's Gold'). It does not exhibit biological behavior.

Risks & Benefits

Benefits: Adds aesthetic value to gemstones like Lapis Lazuli; historically a source of sulfur and iron. Risks: No direct biological risk, but unstable variations (pyrite disease) can decay and release sulfuric acid in museum storage contexts.

Identified on: 2/13/2026