05 Arsenopyrite
Arsenopyrite is fool’s gold, but with
a difference. One would not just be a fool to mistake it for gold. Equally
foolish would be a decision to pick up this mineral on a hike at a quarry, and
proceed to use your hands to put trail mix in your mouth. Arsenopyrite is
arsenic iron sulfide, which is the same type of mineral as pyrite (fool’s gold,
iron sulfide), but with a heavy addition of arsenic. If one attempts to heat or
in any way alter the mineral, a strong garlic odor of arsenic will be produced
as lethally toxic, corrosive and carcinogenic vapors are released. Just
handling the mineral brings one into contact with unstable sulfuric arsenic
salts. Interestingly, arsenopyrite may be identified by striking a specimen
with a hammer. The powerful garlic odor of arsenic can be briefly detected as
the sparks fly.
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