arsenopyrite

9.9

A silver-white to steel-grey mineral made of iron, arsenic and sulfur that is a main source of arsenic

noun
/ˌɑr.sə.noʊˈpaɪ.raɪt/

Specialized

: arsenopirita

The silvery sheen of arsenopyrite makes it sometimes mistaken for other minerals.

Examples

Geologists discovered veins of arsenopyrite in the old mine shaft.
The geologist discovered a large vein of arsenopyrite in the mountain.
Arsenopyrite is a significant source of arsenic used in various industrial processes.
Many miners seek arsenopyrite for its arsenic content.
Arsenopyrite is an important mineral that contains both iron and arsenic, commonly used in mining.
In the old quarry, geologists found several samples of arsenopyrite that exhibited a shiny, metallic luster.
The bright, silver-grey color of arsenopyrite can help distinguish it from similar-looking minerals like pyrite.

Synonyms

mispickel

vsarsenopyrite

Archaic

9.9

A silver-white mineral that contains the poisonous metal arsenic and is mined for it

has identical meaning but functions as an alternative name

Surface Forms

arsenopyrite singular

arsenopyrites plural

Morphology

arsenopyrite = arsenic + pyrite (semi-transparent) = arseno + pyrite

The name transparently combines 'arsen(o)-' (relating to arsenic) and 'pyrite', but the combining form 'arseno-' and the term's technical mineralogical usage make it specialized and possibly unfamiliar to general learners.

Etymology

The word arsenopyrite joins arseno- from 'arsenic' and pyrite, a mineral name meaning 'fool's gold', so it names a mineral that contains arsenic and often looks like pyrite.