Turquoise with pyrite

Turquoise with Pyrite
Turquoise forms with iron pyrite otherwise known as fools gold. Not all mines have this occurrence but it is a natural occurrence. The Arizona copper mines that have turquoise all have this pyrite forming along side or in the turquoise. I’m not sure which came first the pyrite or the turquoise. I would guess the Pyrite as I see it in the turquoise so the turquoise formed around it. Pyrite can come in two colors formed with the turquoise. It comes in Silver color and a gold color. When the cab is cut and polished it looks like gold or silver flakes in the turquoise. Pyrite mixtures can also be dark and shine up looking like shiny metallic inclusions. This is also very beautiful and unique. Kingman and Morenci had a lot of the pyrite forming in the turquoise. Here is a photo of a cab I cut from Morenci turquoise and have the pyrite reflecting in the light.
Copyright 2010 @ James Saunders