The Tale of Two Metals

I was prepping my next class on geothermal fields for my students, but then I thought it’d be nice to share some notes with my awesome readers.

You know, gold (Au) shines, but it’s not easy to find; it requires very specific conditions to precipitate. It doesn’t sit at the same table as any other metal. Identifying it demands both knowledge and keen observation.

Pyrite (FeS₂), on the other hand, precipitates under much broader conditions. Yeah, it shines bright too and looks precious, but when tested, it smells like... sulfur. It sits at the table with everyone, showing up everywhere—from deep ocean vents to ancient swamps.

Gold diggers always shine, but if they really had gold in their own compounds, they wouldn’t need anything from outside sources. Their value would be found within.