pyrites

/pai'raiti:z/

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Word: Pyrites

Part of Speech: Noun (plural; the singular form is "pyrite")

Definition: Pyrites refers to a group of minerals that have a shiny, metallic appearance. The most common type of pyrite is known as "fool's gold" because it looks like gold but is actually made of iron and sulfur.

Usage Instructions:

• Pyrites is often used in scientific or geological contexts.
• When talking about pyrites, you can refer to it in both singular and plural forms, but "pyrite" is more commonly used when speaking about the mineral in general.

Example:

• "The geologist discovered large deposits of pyrites in the old mine, which sparkled in the sunlight."

Advanced Usage:

• In more advanced discussions, you might talk about the chemical composition of pyrites, which is FeS2 (iron disulfide), or how it can be found in sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.

Word Variants:

• Pyrite (singular) - refers to one piece of pyrites.
• Pyritic (adjective) - describes something that contains or resembles pyrite.

Different Meanings:

• In some contexts, "pyrites" may refer to other similar minerals, but generally, it is used to describe those sulfide minerals that look metallic.

Synonyms:

• Fool's gold
• Iron sulfide
• Marcasite (another similar mineral, but chemically different)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no widely known idioms or phrasal verbs specifically related to "pyrites." However, you could use "fool's gold" in other contexts to describe something that appears valuable but is not.

Summary:

"Pyrites" is a noun that describes shiny minerals, particularly known for its resemblance to gold. It's used mainly in geological discussions and is often associated with mining and earth sciences.

Academic

Noun

1. any of various metallic-looking sulfides (of which pyrite is the commonest)