Density of Pyrite: Specific Gravity and Mohs Hardness
The density of pyrite is about 5.01 g/cm3, equal to a specific gravity of 5.01, with a Mohs hardness near 6.3. One cubic meter of solid pyrite weighs roughly 5.01 tonnes.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | 5.01 g/cm3 |
| Specific gravity | 5.01 |
| Mohs hardness | 6.3 |
| Mass of 1 m3 | about 5.01 tonnes |
Why it matters
Fools gold is heavy: twice the density of quartz, and a sulfate generator when it oxidizes in fills and concrete aggregates. Mineral densities are the building blocks of rock density: weight them by volume fraction and the bulk rock number follows, which is exactly what the calculator below does.
Use these values
- Rock Density Calculator to combine mineral densities into rock density.
- Mohs Hardness Identification Tool to identify minerals by scratch test.
- The Property Library for every mineral, rock, and soil on this site.
Related Calculators and Reference
- Rock Density and Specific Gravity Calculator, to turn a specific gravity straight into a density in whichever unit the report wants.
- Rock Density Calculator from Mineral Composition, to build a bulk density from modal percentages rather than guessing at one.
- Density of Feldspar, for the mineral that usually sits alongside it in the same rock.
- Density of Gypsum Mineral, for the next comparison most people reach for.
- USGS Mineral Resources Program, published mineral property data and commodity reports.