answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Answer

Because Fool's Gold (iron pyrite) looks like gold, but it is not real gold. It fools the finder into thinking he has found real gold. A fool will persist in thinking it is gold even when it is proven that it is not real gold.

For more information about Fool's Gold, See Related links below this box.

On the lighter side:

Some poor prospector thought he had gold, due to the shiny gold appearance of the pyrite he discovered. When he took it to the assay office, the assayer said "You have been fooled by the gold like appearance of this mineral, which is actually called 'pyrite'." Henceforth, the assayer ridiculed hundreds of subsequent prospectors with the exclamation of "Fool's Gold!" sometimes in jest, and sometimes in earnest, but always in vague reference to the suspected intelligence of its target. Pyrite thus became the only mineral to be associated with fools and the perpetration of foolishness.

User Avatar

Wiki User

βˆ™ 13y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

AnswerBot

βˆ™ 6mo ago

Fool's Gold got its name because it resembles real gold to the untrained eye but is actually iron pyrite, a mineral with no real gold content. The term "fool's" implies that those who mistake it for real gold are fooled or deceived.

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: How did Fool's Gold get its name?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Earth Science

How do you distinguish gold from fools gold?

Gold is a dense, soft, and malleable metal with a distinct yellow color. Fools gold, also known as pyrite, is a mineral that is harder and more brittle than gold, with a brassy yellow color and a cubic crystal structure. A simple test is to scratch the mineral against a hard surface: gold will leave a gold streak, while fools gold will leave a greenish-black streak.


What is the chemical name for fool's gold?

The chemical name for fool's gold is iron sulfide, commonly known as pyrite.


Why is Chalcopyrite called fools gold?

Chalcopyrite is sometimes called fools gold because of its bright golden color, similar to real gold. However, it does not contain any gold and lacks the properties of gold, making it less valuable. Its name comes from the Greek words "chalcos" (copper) and "pyrites" (striking fire), as chalcopyrite is a copper ore that can create sparks when struck against metal.


What is another name for pyrite?

Another name for pyrite is "fool's gold" due to its metallic luster and golden color that can sometimes deceive people into thinking they have found real gold.


How can you test a rock for gold to make sure it isn't fools gold?

The most reliable way to test a rock for gold is through a specific gravity test or a professional assay. Specific gravity tests involve measuring the weight of the rock in water compared to its weight in air, which can indicate the presence of gold. Professional assays involve sending a sample of the rock to a laboratory for detailed analysis to determine the presence of gold accurately.