Where to find iron pyrites in uk?

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Tipi

Full Member
Jun 14, 2006
223
49
Wondering Wizard, UK
Does anyone know where iron pyrites can be found naturally?

I am actually a geologist but I don’t know what rocks these occur in.
I know that you can find pyritised fossils along the Jurassic coast in Dorset but don’t think I’ve found a nodule there.

one internet source mentioned you can find them in chalk. Can anyone confirm?

cheers
Tipi
 
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Tipi

Full Member
Jun 14, 2006
223
49
Wondering Wizard, UK
Maybe answering my own question here, but just found this on eBay, mentioned “found in the Oxford Blue Gault clay cliffs of Kent”

 
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Kepis

Bushcrafter through and through
Jul 17, 2005
6,702
2,139
Sussex
Last edited:
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Tipi

Full Member
Jun 14, 2006
223
49
Wondering Wizard, UK
i have found quite a few, averaging golf ball size, up along the ridge around gatton park/Reigate/godstone way.

I have most often picked them up from freshly plough fields up there
thanks very much. can definitely take the dog out that way when restrictions have eased
 

Robson Valley

Full Member
Nov 24, 2014
9,959
2,665
McBride, BC
What do you expect for matrix? Here, it's a very hard and stratified shale or slate like sedimentary rock. We can chip it open in sheets. The local iron pyrite "Fool's Gold" appears in cubic crystals, 3mm/side to 15mm/side. But you have to bust rock all day to find those.
This one is about 15mm on a side. Maybe next pic is the deposit of origin.
 

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gra_farmer

Full Member
Mar 29, 2016
1,824
1,036
Kent
Maybe answering my own question here, but just found this on eBay, mentioned “found in the Oxford Blue Gault clay cliffs of Kent”

Folkestone (Kent) http://www.discoveringfossils.co.uk/folkestone-kent/
 

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