Pyrite

A Natural History of Fool's Gold

David Rickard (, Cardiff University)

$75.95

Hardback

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English

Oxford University Press
18 June 2015

Social & cultural history; Mathematics & Sciences; History of science; Earth sciences; The Earth: natural history general

Most people have heard of pyrite, the brassy yellow mineral commonly known as fool's gold. But despite being the most common sulfide on the earth's surface, pyrite's bright crystals have attracted a noteworthy amount of attention from 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 lore 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 makes appearances in our world. He follows pyrite back through the medieval alchemists to the ancient Arab, Chinese, Indian, and Classical worlds, showing why the mineral was central to the development of these various ancient cultures.

Pyrite can be tracked to the beginnings of humankind, and Rickard reveals how it contributed to the origins of our art and storytelling and even to our biologic development as humans. But pyrite has unique scientific properties as well: the book distills how oxidation makes fool's gold look like a precious metal, and shows how pyrite can choke out oxygen from water, creating large dead zones in our oceans.

Rickard analyzes pyrite's role in manufacturing sulfuric acid, a compound used for everything from cleaning drains to fertilizing crops. Its influence extends from human evolution and the formation of societies, 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 one of the world's most fascinating minerals.

By: David Rickard ( Cardiff University)
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 160mm, Width: 241mm, Spine: 25mm
Weight: 1g
ISBN: 9780190203672
ISBN 10: 0190203676
Pages: 304
Publication Date: 18 June 2015
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Preface ; Prologue ; Chapter 1. Foole's Gold: ; Chapter 2. Pyrite and the origins of civilization ; Chapter 3. What is pyrite? ; Chapter 4. Crystals and atoms ; Chapter 5. Hell and black smokers ; Chapter 6. Microbes and minerals ; Chapter 7. Acid Earth ; Chapter 8. Pyrite and the global environment ; Chapter 9. Pyrite and the origin of life. ; Chapter 10. Full circle ; Epilogue

David Rickard is Emeritus Professor at Cardiff University. His writings have appeared in numerous journals, including Chemical Geology, Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta, and Earth and Planetary Science.

Reviews for Pyrite: A Natural History of Fool's Gold

A unique combination of historical narrative (Rickard includes numerous informative anecdotes) and scientific treatise, the book includes informative notes at the end of each chapter. The accessible prose makes the book invaluable for scientists and nonscientists alike. Essential. M. E. McCallum, CHOICE David Rickard has pulled off a remarkable trick by writing a book on mineralogy and geochemistry that will entertain and interest an unusually wide range of readers. ... David Rickard's several decades' worth of original research experience and the associated knowledge he has accumulated are condensed in this highly entertaining and very informative book. I recommend it to anyone interested in geochemistry, in mineralogy, and in science generally. Mihaly Posfai, Elements Rickard's book is an essential corrective to pyrite's fool's-gold reputation. Jonathon Keats, New Scientist