Fool's Gold/Pyrite in my aquarium?! Siren unaffected?

[Catnkit]

So today I just realized that there is what appears to be fool's gold on a big rock in one of my aquariums. This rock was given to me with a tank by someone who had the tank for years, and most likely the rock as well. I'm assuming they used it safely, and my lesser siren has had it in his tank for months. I thought fool's gold was harmful to fish? Maybe their fish and my siren are just unaffected? Is it possible these patches of brassy yellow are not fool's gold? Or maybe the dangers are just very slow? Is there any reason to worry here?

Opinions, please!!!

 

[jclyde13]

I'm no geologist, but that looks nothing like pyrite, to me. Looks like granite or something similar.

 

[Chub_by]

I'm no geologist, but that looks nothing like pyrite, to me. Looks like granite or something similar.

+1

Fools gold occurs in tiny but very shines spots. Not covering such a big space.

 

[Catnkit]

The picture isn't very good because the camera isn't very good. But in the very centre of the pic there is the biggest patch on the rock. The rest is tiny flakes. The patch is about a 2/3rd centimetre square. It's VERY shiny, the camera is capturing it almost white from the glare.

 

[CarvinSigX]

+1

Fools gold occurs in tiny but very shines spots. Not covering such a big space.

Not necessarily. My dad works in a limestone mine and he has brought home some pretty big pieces.



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[Catnkit]

So... anyone after my amended response?

 

[Royaldoa]

looks like quartz of some kind

 

[Catnkit]

Just did a google search, quartz seems to be white, this stuff is very yellow.

Either way, if my siren has been okay for the last couple of months with it it has to be safe for fish and amphibs, right?

 

[Redbellypiranha]

def not fools gold

 

[Catnkit]

Just to be absolutely sure we're all looking at the same thing, here's a closeup of the area: