Pyrite by Country 2025

Pyrite, or iron pyrite, is found in coal beds and is sometimes associated with gold. Pyrite is often referred to as fool’s gold because of its yellowish coloring.

Pyrite is a source of iron and sulfur. The most common uses for pyrite are in the glass and casting industry for stainless steel smelting and the chemical industry.

China is the largest producer and the fifth-largest exporter of pyrite in the world ($5.32 million). The major export destinations for Chinese iron pyrite are Bulgaria ($41M), Italy ($11.7M), Turkey ($6.24M), and Russia ($3.17M). China is also the leading importer of pyrite at 65% of all global imports.

The state of Bihar in India is the only pyrite producer in the country. India exported around $281 million in pyrite in 2022. India has an iron pyrite reserve of 1,674 million tonnes.

As the third-largest producer, Japan produces a 6.5% share of the total production of pyrite. Japan exported $3.32 million worth of iron pyrites extracted from the Oppu Mine in Aomori Prefecture, Ogoya Mine in Ishikawa Prefecture, and Hanawa Mine in Akita Prefecture.

In Italy, pyrite is found in Elba and Piedmont and is known for its size and aesthetic. Iron pyrite is metallic, opaque, brittle, and has a yellowish color that resembles gold.

Peru is the fourth-largest exporter of pyrite, with $1.6 million. Most of the pyrite exported by Peru is extracted from the Huanzala mine in Ancash.

Russian pyrite has a large concentration of iron with a refractive index of 5.1 with no fluorescence. Russia is the world’s fifth-largest exporter of pyrite at $3.17 million in 2021.

Iron pyrite is found throughout the United States, including Colorado, Illinois, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Montana. As a source of iron and sulfur, pyrite in the US is commonly used to manufacture fertilizer.