Ref: PIH.1MB035_cj13pc623_15_14526503

Sparkling pyrite

Approximate size: 4,5 x 3,5 x 7,3 cm.

This iron mineral has played a surprising role in human development, far beyond its metallic appearance.

A spark of civilization

• Ancient peoples discovered that striking it produced sparks, making it humanity’s first "lighter"
• Nordic tribes carried it as a method to start fires during their journeys
• In the Neolithic, it was used to ignite tinder in sacred rituals

The mirror of antiquity

Before glass mirrors were invented:

• The Egyptians polished pyrite sheets to create reflective surfaces
• The Olmecs used it in their ceremonial masks
• Portable pyrite mirrors have been found in excavations in Pompeii

A strategic mineral

Its industrial importance is little known but vital:

• Main raw material for producing sulfuric acid since the 18th century
• Used to make gunpowder during the Napoleonic wars
• Today, it is key in the production of lithium batteries

Cristalljoia, 40 years of minerals
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