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Answer
Because Fool's Gold (iron pyrite) looks like gold, but it is not real gold. It fools the finder into thinking he has found real gold. A fool will persist in thinking it is gold even when it is proven that it is not real gold.
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On the lighter side:
Some poor prospector thought he had gold, due to the shiny gold appearance of the pyrite he discovered. When he took it to the assay office, the assayer said "You have been fooled by the gold like appearance of this mineral, which is actually called 'pyrite'." Henceforth, the assayer ridiculed hundreds of subsequent prospectors with the exclamation of "Fool's Gold!" sometimes in jest, and sometimes in earnest, but always in vague reference to the suspected intelligence of its target. Pyrite thus became the only mineral to be associated with fools and the perpetration of foolishness.
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∙ 12y ago
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How do you distinguish gold from fools gold?
Gold is a heavy ductile metal and gold is an Element. Fools gold is actually Iron Pyrite and is brittle and light compared to gold. Gold has a specific gravity around 19 while fools gold (iron pyrite) has a specific gravity of 4.95 to 5.10. Fools gold is harder than gold. The hardness of Fools gold is 6 to 6.5 while Gold is softer and has a hardness of 2.5 on the Moh's scale of hardness. When hammered gold will flatten while other yellow minerals break Fools Gold (Iron Pyrite) is a sulfide of iron,with a metallic appearance and occurs either as distinct cubical crystals or in massive crystalline forms.Pyrite is slightly harder than steel and cannot be scratched with a knife while gold is much softer than steel and can easily be scratched with a knife. Pyrite emits sulfur when heated...gold does not. There are many differences between Fools Gold and Gold, that is why "fools gold" got its name.
What is another name for pyrite?
There two other names for pyrite. It is often called "fools gold"because it looks rather like gold. Its scientific name is iron disulfide.
How can you test a rock for gold to make sure it isn't fools gold?
hit it with a hammer: if it shatters its fools gold, if it flattens it is probably gold.
Why is Chalcopyrite called fools gold?
chalcopyrite is called fools gold because it's lustre looks like gold!
What is the chemical name for fool's gold?
Fools gold is commonly known as Iron Pyrite which is Iron Disulfide - FeS2.
What is a chemist's name for fools gold?
The mineral pyrite is fool's gold.
What is pyrite rock?
Its another name for fools gold
What is the real name for fools gold?
Pyrite
Is there any gold in fools gold?
There is no real gold in fools gold.
What is another name for faux gold?
Fools Gold : pyrite .
What is the dencity of fools gold?
the dencity of fools gold is 5.0
The scientific name for fools gold?
Fools Gold is actually 'Iron Pyrites' , sometimes just called 'pyrities'. Is it crystals of Iron sulphide. The chemical formul;a is FeS2 ( Iron(II)disulphide). Its appearance is slightly angular crystalline substance. The colour of fools gold is a slightly cooler yellow to natural gold.
What is the other name for fake gold that is really silver with a thin sheet of real gold covering it?
Fools gold
Who discovered fools gold?
The fools
Does real gold sing and fools gold float?
real gold does not sing it sinks and so does fools gold.
Does fools gold weight as much as gold?
No, fools gold or iron pyrites is less dense than gold.
What is fools gold rock made of?
Fools gold is known as iron pyrite
