Fool’s gold

Iron pyrite has the peculiar characteristic of appearing like the most valuable of all elements in hue, luster and appeal. Of course, this begs the question of what is truly valuable. Value to objects is generally assigned through an extraordinarily complex equation, which includes variables such as history, culture, rarity, utility and plethora of other adjustable gears in the machine of economics - but more on this in a moment. For now, it is interesting to consider how closely fool’s gold can mimic the genuine element. Atomic analysis would quickly reveal that fool’s gold is an amalgamation of two elements (iron and sulfur, pending no impurities) while real gold is merely elemental. Without advanced technology to distinguish such differences, there are a few other tests one could procure to separate the two. Interestingly, on the Moh’s hardness scale, gold is quite delicate with a hardness of about 2.0, while fool’s gold is around a 6.0, which makes the ability of the fool’s gold to deceive the observer all the more cunning if this information were to be unknown. Gold, like many valuable items and ideas, are delicately fragile and easily shattered if not handled with care (though we typically think of gold in the bar form, this is an unnatural refinement of the element and not the natural form). Another test to distinguish the true from the imitation is the acid test. As you may guess, the genuine artifact can withstand the acidulous douse while the one of pretense will dissolve. The trial by fire is yet another distinguishing feature, with the imitator melting under the heat a little above 1100 degrees Fahrenheit while the real version will only be refined in such pressure and purified, rather than scorched to liquid. Long after the impurities are removed, genuine valuable gold remains under the rising heat, while the fool’s version has long since absconded and melted like wax. A final though on value…the dollar bill (or virtual dollar with the plastic credit card) you may use to purchase your coffee today only has assigned, prescribed value. You, yourself, and every other person you interact with today, have true value