Preface
Prologue
Chapter 1. Foole's Gold:
Chapter 2. Pyrite and the origins of civilization
Chapter 3. What is pyrite?
Chapter 4. Crystals and atoms
Chapter 5. Hell and black smokers
Chapter 6. Microbes and minerals
Chapter 7. Acid Earth
Chapter 8. Pyrite and the global environment
Chapter 9. Pyrite and the origin of life.
Chapter 10. Full circle
Epilogue
David Rickard is Emeritus Professor at Cardiff University. His writings have appeared in numerous journals, including Chemical Geology, Geochemica Et Cosmochimica Acta, and Earth and Planetary Science.
"A unique combination of historical narrative (Rickard includes
numerous informative anecdotes) and scientific treatise, the book
includes informative notes at the end of each chapter. The
accessible prose makes the book invaluable for scientists and
nonscientists alike. Essential." --CHOICE
"The depth and breadth of the author's knowledge, as well as his
humor, makes this book a delightful read. ... David Rickard's
several decades' worth of original research experience and the
associated knowledge he has accumulated are condensed in this
highly entertaining and very informative book. I recommend it to
anyone interested in geochemistry, in mineralogy, and in science
generally." --Mihály Pósfai, Elements
"Rickard's book is an essential corrective to pyrite's fool's-gold
reputation." --New Scientist
"Pyrite is aimed at the keen scientist and is the type of book you
can dip in and out of. It is very well researched, and gives a
unique viewpoint on human and geological history on one mineral."
--Chemistry World
"The author is a professed expert in the field of sulfur compounds,
and that knowledge comes through in every aspect of the book. He
makes a strong case for pyrite being one of the most central
compounds to human history as well as to the history of our
planet... A highly instructive book delivered by a foremost expert
in the field." - LIBRARY JOURNAL
"In a remarkable feat of alchemy, David Rickard has transformed a
common mineral into literary gold. Science, poetry, history, and
folklore blend in this tale of pyrite -- a magical substance that
illuminates our planet's co-evolving geosphere and biosphere.
--Robert M. Hazen, Carnegie Institution for Science and author of
The Story of Earth.
"Popular books about minerals containing more than pretty pictures
are rare, so this is a welcome addition. It may seem strange to
focus on just one mineral but pyrite more than justifies this
distinction by its importance historically and culturally, as well
as in key areas of science and technology. Rich in detail and
written in an engaging style, this book is a rare example of a work
that successfully bridges the gap between the expert mineralogist
and lay
person or beginning student. It has located and exploited a rich
vein of 'fool's gold.' --David J. Vaughan, Professor of Mineralogy,
University of Manchester
"The amount of information enshrined in this book is impressive.
... [T]his is a fascinating book that ... will certainly reveal a
whole unexpected world to the general audience and serve as an
appetizer for those with a solid scientific background..." --Acta
Crystallographica Section B
"Rickard repeatedly and convincingly argues that pyrite has been
misunderstood. It's not a shiny and worthless fake. Instead, it's
'the mineral that made the modern world.'" --The Behemoth
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