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Framboids may be the most astonishing and abundant natural features you've never heard of. These microscopic spherules of golden pyrite consist of thousands of even smaller microcrystals, often arranged in stunning geometric arrays. They are rarely more than twenty micrometers across, and often look like miniscule raspberries under the microscope. The formation of a framboid is the result of self-assembly of pyrite micro- and nano-crystals under the influence of surface forces. They can be found all around us in rocks of all ages and present-day sediments, soils, and natural waters. Our planet makes billions every second and has been doing so for most of recorded geologic time. As a result, there are more framboids on our planet than there are sand grains on Earth or stars in the observable universe. The microscopic size of framboids belies their importance to contemporary science. They help us better understand inorganic self-assembly and self-organization, and studying them illuminates Earth's evolutionary history. In this book, David Rickard explains what framboids are, how they are formed, and what we can learn from them. The book's thirteen chapters trace everything from their basic attributes and mineralogy to their biogeochemistry and paleoenvironmental significance. Rickard expands on the most updated research and recent developments in geology, chemistry, biology, materials science, biogeochemistry, mineralogy, and crystallography, making this a must-have guide for researchers.

Most people have heard of pyrite, the brassy yellow mineral sometimes known as fool's gold. Pyrite behaves like stone and shines like metal, and its dual nature makes it a source of both metals and sulfur. Despite being the most common sulfide mineral on the earth's surface, pyrite's bright crystals have attracted the attention of many different cultures, and its nearly identical visual appearance to gold has led to tales of fraud, trickery, and claims of alchemy. Pyrite occupies a unique place in human history: it became an integral part of mining culture in America during the 19th century, and it has a presence in ancient Sumerian texts, Greek philosophy, and medieval poetry, becoming a symbol for anything overvalued. In Pyrite, geochemist and author David Rickard blends basic science and historical narrative to describe the many unique ways pyrite is integral to our world. He explains the basic science of oxidation, showing us why the mineral looks like gold, and inspects death zones of present oceans where pyrite-related hydrogen sulfide destroys oxygen in the waters. Rickard analyzes pyrite's role in manufacturing sulfuric acid and discusses the significant appearance of the mineral in literature, history, and the development of societies. The mineral's influence extends from human evolution and culture, through science and industry, to our understanding of ancient, modern, and future earth environments. Energetic and accessible, Pyrite is the first book to show readers the history and science of a mineral that helped make the modern world.

Pyrite is a widely spread natural mineral and important organic material. It participates in numerous geochemical processes, including oxidation reactions that cause acid mine drainage. In this book, the authors discuss pyrites synthesis, characterization and uses. Topics include the use of pyrite as a concentrator of gold in laboratory and natural systems; oxidative degradation of organic pollutants by fenton reaction in pyrite suspension; potentiometric characterization and analytical application of pyrite mineral for the assay of weak organic acids in non-aqueous media; sorption of mercury(II) to synthesized pyrite (FES2) and stabilization via surface reaction; the pyritization of fossils from the cretaceous period of the Langerstatte Araripe Basin, in Northeast Brazil; and pyrite phases as high pressure polymorphs of dioxides and other compounds.