Black Onyx with Pyrite Heart - 2-2.25 inch

The Black Onyx with Pyrite Heart is a deep jet black stone carrying scattered flecks and fine veins of brass-gold pyrite. The metallic inclusions sit flush with the surface and catch light in hard bright points against the surrounding black, which is dense and unbroken elsewhere. The polish is high and glassy across the full body, and the lobes are cleanly carved with a defined cleft and a rounded point. The Heart fills a hand with a solid, cool weight.

Onyx has one of the longest documented records of any black stone in ornamental use, and it remains among the most widely chosen materials for protective work in modern practice. It is traditionally described as steadying and defensive, and is commonly kept in a workspace or on an altar rather than carried. Pyrite, where it occurs alongside, has its own separate tradition tied to prosperity and drive, and the two together are often positioned as a working combination rather than a purely decorative one.

Key Properties
Primary Focus: Protection & Grounding
Secondary Focus: Calm & Stress Relief
Chakra Association: Root
Zodiac Sign: Leo, Capricorn
Chinese Zodiac: Rat, Ox
Ruling Planet: Saturn
Elements: Earth
Mohs Hardness: 6-7
Stone Family: Tectosilicate
Material: Black Onyx, Pyrite
Form: Heart
Finish: Polished
Approximate Size: 52-58 mm (2.0-2.3 inches)
Approximate Weight: 86-112 g
Listing: Sold by Single Unit

Geological Information
Black Onyx is a banded chalcedony within the quartz family, silicon dioxide at Mohs 7 in the trigonal system. Commercial black onyx is almost universally dyed: naturally grey or banded chalcedony treated by the sugar-acid or iron nitrate process standardised in the Idar-Oberstein agate trade in Germany from the nineteenth century onward, a treatment that is stable, permanent, and industry-standard, and is disclosed here as a matter of course. The pyrite inclusions are natural rather than added: iron sulphide, FeS2, cubic in system at Mohs 6 to 6.5, whose brass-yellow metallic lustre earned it the name Fool's Gold and whose Greek root, pyr, means fire, after the sparks it throws when struck. Onyx itself has been worked since antiquity across Greek, Roman, Mesopotamian, and Egyptian cultures into cameos, intaglios, and amulets, and the black variety carries a further documented history in European mourning jewellery. Onyx is sourced primarily from Brazil, with further material from India and Germany; pyrite sources include Spain, Peru, Italy, Bolivia, and the USA.

AuturaSol Standard
Each natural stone is selected for its authenticity, geological integrity, and energetic clarity. Natural variations in colour, structure, inclusions, and surface features are inherent to geological materials and contribute to the individuality of each piece. Any known treatments, enhancements, stabilization, or man-made characteristics are clearly disclosed within the product information where applicable. Every piece is inspected and photographed to reflect its true character; however, lighting conditions, screen settings, and natural variation may cause slight differences in appearance. If you have any questions about a piece before completing your purchase, we're always here to help. Where authenticity meets beauty, we tell you exactly what you're holding. Pyrite can tarnish with exposure to moisture and humidity. Store in a dry place.