What is Fool's Gold?

Answer 1

Fool’s gold is a naturally occurring iron disulphide mineral. It is also called pyrites. Because of its brassy-yellow colour and a brilliant lustre, it is often mistaken for gold and has hence been given the name Fool’s Gold. It is harder and more brittle than gold. It contains 46.67% Iron and 53.33% Sulphur.

Answer 2

It is a stone known as Iron Pyrite. It has a gold sheen on the front and years ago, during the gold rush days, some eager miners would fine it and rush off to sell it, only to be told that it was just iron ore. It came to be known as fool's gold because the experienced miners would know it was not real. Only a fool would think it was real gold. That is it. Hope that helped.

Answer 3

It's pyrite, ie. FeS2 (iron disulphide). It looks exactly like gold. Smart miners used to test the nugget they had just found by biting it - tooth prints on it meant gold (as pure gold is soft). Fool miners skipped that simple test and risked taking pyrite for gold.

Answer 4

The simple answer is that it is iron pyrite. Google Fool's Gold and you'll come up with the same thing.

Answer 5

Up here, we say fool's gold is coal ... but I think that has a lot to do with how miners thought they would make money mining coal, but instead they were worked to the bone and suffered strange diseases.

Answer 6

Pyrite. It looks very similar in appearance to gold.

Answer 7

Iron pirite

Answer 8

something pyryite. fake gold pretty much.

Answer 9

iron sulfide

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrite

great write up about it

Answer 10

pyrite