Can You Get Your Pyrite Wet?
If you have some pyrite in your possession you may be wondering if you can get those pyrite crystals wet. It could be that you want to clean them, or maybe you want to put them in a fish tank. You may even be thinking about wearing some pyrite jewelry, though the skin does release moisture.
You can get pyrite wet. If you do get pyrite wet, you will need to make sure that you get it dried off. If you leave pyrite in water for long periods of time or with water droplets on it, it can start to damage it.
Cleaning Pyrite With Water
Pyrite can be cleaned and rinsed in water. If you rinse and clean your pyrite, make sure you dry it off as best you can. Pyrite can oxidize and rust, this happens from the exposure to moisture and then to oxygen. Always get the water off your pyrite crystals.
Some pyrite can be more resilient to water and oxygen than others. This may be due to a polish or other applied agents to the pyrite. In all though, it is best to keep pyrite out of water and away from humid conditions.
To stop pyrite from rusting, always remember to keep it away from moisture and humid conditions. Dry off pyrite immediately after doing any sort of cleaning to it.
If you have rusty pyrite you can clean it following these steps:
- Use water to rinse it off and do a pre-wash.
- You can use a laundry detergent, soap, or baking soda along with a soft bristle tooth brush.
- Get your tooth brush wet and put some of the cleaning agent on it.
- Scrub “gently” to remove rust and other debris.
- Thoroughly rinse off the pyrite of the cleaning agent used.
- Completely dry off the pyrite.
Pyrite and Fish Tanks
It is not recommended to put pyrite in a fish tank. Since the stability on the surface of pyrite can vary from sample to sample, pyrite contents can make its way quickly into the water. Pyrites contents, in particular the content of sulfate, will be toxic to fish if it makes it into the water.
Polished or protected crystals of pyrite might be okay in a fish tank for a time. However, as time goes on, the surface of even some of the most solid looking pyrite crystals could start to break down. This will leave the toxic contents of pyrite leaking into the water.
It might be that putting a small amount of pyrite in a fish tank may not show negative effects to your fish. Though I can’t imagine a cleaner fish for instance, sucking on a piece of pyrite would be very healthy for it. It is just best to not put pyrite into a fish tank.
Wearing Pyrite as Jewelry
It is typically not dangerous or toxic to wear pyrite jewelry as long as the jewelry is constructed in a certain way. There are some forms of pyrite such as iron pyrite that can have higher concentrations of arsenic and should not be made into jewelry.
Most pyrite is safe to handle and there are many people that do sell pyrite jewelry. I have made some interesting observations on pyrite jewelry, and have read a few things about pyrite jewelry as well.
I have noted that pyrite jewelry is predominantly made in a way that the pyrite is not really next to the skin. It will be mounted to a silver or gold plated setting for things like earrings, rings, and pendants on necklaces.
I have seen some jewelry, like bracelets and necklaces that will have pyrite chunks that will come in contact with the skin. I am a bit suspicious of these types of jewelry as I have heard that pyrite can turn skin a green color over time.
This makes sense as your skin can emit water and create moisture around the pyrite. Oxygen will then do its thing. I have personally experienced seeing pyrite specimens getting handled often, and then that specimen ending up looking very dull.
So Is Pyrite Dangerous?
Pyrite can be dangerous to not only human life but other life as well. The danger of pyrite is in the decomposition of iron oxides and sulfate. When sulfate from pyrite combines with water, the danger of sulfuric acid to all surrounding life is very big.
There have been cases in history where larger pyrite deposits from mines were exposed to nearby rivers and streams. The destruction to all nearby wildlife was not only devastating, but visually shocking as very yellow water contaminated everything it touched.
Final Thoughts on Getting Pyrite Wet
I think it to be fairly safe to own and handle pyrite and even get pyrite wet “if” you dry it off right away.
I would never put any pyrite in a fish tank, unless you really don’t care about your fish. Even putting a small amount in a fish tank might have some ill effects on your fish.
I am not too keen on wearing pyrite jewelry if it is touching the skin. I think with the potential of creating toxins from the combination of the moisture from your skin and the pyrite would not be worth it.
There are some other alternate popular minerals that can handle water, and being in water, better than pyrite.
