Iron Pyrites

[hillwalker]

Hi All,

I want to create my own stone age fire lighting set. Do any of you
know where I can get or can anyone recommend a source for Iron Pyrites ?

Many thanks for the Help

Hillwalker

 

[wingstoo]

Hillwalker,

We bought some in a gift shop (grockle shop) and some museums might sell it...

LS

 

[Nemisis]

Also look in yellow pages for Lapidary shops they often carry small pieces for folks making up rock sample displays
Dave.

 

[eraaij]

You can order marcasite or a complete stone age kit from this Dutch site: http://www.het-stenen-tijdperk.nl/

This guy is an active practitioner of stone age skills. Very nice bloke to deal with. I have one of his marcasite-kits and they work great.

-Emile

 

[hillwalker]

Thanks for the help everyone.

Great link Eraaij, I will email him to find out more.

Any more suggestions will still be welcome.

Thanks
Hillwalker

 

[hilltop]

try hobby, geology/rock collectors shops, got a massive bit from a rock shop in castleton peak district for about 2 quid,

 

[eraaij]

On the other hand, I did some searching on the net and came upon this:

http://storeforknowledge.com/Pyrite-Mineral-Rock-P5136C255.aspx

I have only experience with marcasite, but its chemical composition is the same as pyrite.

0.99 for a lump like that is not much.

-Emile

 

[Pappa]

On the other hand, I did some searching on the net and came upon this:

http://storeforknowledge.com/Pyrite-Mineral-Rock-P5136C255.aspx

I have only experience with marcasite, but its chemical composition is the same as pyrite.

0.99 for a lump like that is not much.

-Emile

Pyrite like the stuff sold there isn't really suitable for firelighting as its too coarse grained and will have a tendency to fragment when struck. Also, lumps of pyrite sold in mineral shops tend to be quite small, and it's a lot easier to hold a larger lump. If you can find a lump of fine grained pyrite, perhaps plum-sized or larger, you're on to a winner.

Pappa

 

[hilltop]

Pyrite like the stuff sold there isn't really suitable for firelighting as its too coarse grained and will have a tendency to fragment when struck. Also, lumps of pyrite sold in mineral shops tend to be quite small, and it's a lot easier to hold a larger lump. If you can find a lump of fine grained pyrite, perhaps plum-sized or larger, you're on to a winner.

Pappa

the bit i got is about the size of a satsuma, fine/medium sized grains, works fine,

 

[Goose]

How do you use pyrites? Is it with flint or in the place of flint?

 

[eraaij]

Pyrite like the stuff sold there isn't really suitable for firelighting as its too coarse grained and will have a tendency to fragment when struck. Also, lumps of pyrite sold in mineral shops tend to be quite small, and it's a lot easier to hold a larger lump. If you can find a lump of fine grained pyrite, perhaps plum-sized or larger, you're on to a winner.

Pappa

Hmmm, the marcasite piece that I have is not big at all. I discovered that a sharp piece of flint (in my case) and careful/extensive preparation of the tinder is the key to making fire this way. If I can get a spark from the stone it, it works for me.

But I do not have experience with Pyrite and its different form could as well make it difficult to get that spark at all. Trying it is the way to go, I guess.


-Emile

 

[BobFromHolland]

You can order marcasite or a complete stone age kit from this Dutch site: http://www.het-stenen-tijdperk.nl/

This guy is an active practitioner of stone age skills. Very nice bloke to deal with. I have one of his marcasite-kits and they work great.

-Emile

That sure is a nice site! Got me all enthousiastic. Still struggeling with the hand drill for now, but I sure will give one of those sets of flint and marcasite kits a go when I master this.
Bob

 

[Pappa]

Hmmm, the marcasite piece that I have is not big at all. I discovered that a sharp piece of flint (in my case) and careful/extensive preparation of the tinder is the key to making fire this way. If I can get a spark from the stone it, it works for me.

But I do not have experience with Pyrite and its different form could as well make it difficult to get that spark at all. Trying it is the way to go, I guess.


-Emile

I suppose you can use any sized lump of Pyrite/Marcasite, but as it needs to be struck quite hard, I much prefer to have my hand a safe distance away from a lump of sharp flint moving with great speed and force towards it.

I prefer a larger lump as it's easier to hold and safer too.

Pappa