Where is Shale with Pyrite found?
Shale (sedimentary rock) with Pyrite (FeS2)
Got a photo? Identify rocks instantly with the Rockby app
Open the appShale with Pyrite occurs in specific geological environments. Knowing where to look, and in what kind of rock, is the difference between going home empty-handed and finding a great specimen.
Where to find Shale with Pyrite
Marcellus Shale (Appalachian Basin, USA)
A well-known organic-rich shale formation containing significant pyrite, important for natural gas production.
Kimmeridge Clay (UK)
A Jurassic-age organic-rich shale, a major source rock for North Sea oil, often containing abundant pyrite.
Posidonia Shale (Germany)
A Lower Jurassic black shale famous for its exceptional fossil preservation and pyrite content.
Devonian-Mississippian black shales (North America)
Widespread units like the Chattanooga Shale, New Albany Shale, and Antrim Shale, known for organic richness and pyrite.
Collecting tips
- Look for dark, laminated rocks. Shale is typically dark and splits into thin layers. The darker the shale, often the higher the organic content and potential for pyrite.
- Examine weathered outcrops. Weathered pyritic shale can show rust-colored staining (gossan) due to the oxidation of pyrite, indicating its presence. However, fresh surfaces are needed to see the metallic pyrite.
- Check for metallic specks. Look for brassy yellow, metallic specks or crystals embedded within the fine-grained rock matrix.
- Smell for sulfur. Freshly broken pyritic shale may emit a faint sulfurous odor, especially if it's actively weathering.
- Consider the geological context. Pyritic shales are common in marine or lacustrine sequences deposited under anoxic conditions, often associated with coal seams or hydrocarbon source rocks.
Quick Check
- Color:
- Dark gray to black shale with brassy yellow metallic specks.
- Luster:
- Dull to earthy for shale, metallic for pyrite.
- Streak:
- Shale streak is typically white to gray. Pyrite streak is greenish-black to brownish-black.
Explore Shale with Pyrite
Identify rocks anywhere
Free on iOS, Android, and Web. Photo identification, full database, and your personal collection.