Pyrite
Overview
Pyrite is an in-game raw material that functions as a space-harvestable metal-bearing ore. It does not naturally appear as a common surface ore in the base game biomes; instead, the primary in-game source of Pyrite is from renewable Space Points of Interest gathered by rocket missions. The element represents the game analogue of the mineral commonly called "fool's gold" in real life due to its gold-like lustre.
Pyrite is obtained on rocket missions to certain asteroid POIs. It can be collected from Rocky Asteroid Fields, Metallic Asteroid Fields, and Sandy Ore Fields at the following approximate rates per rocket cycle:
- Rocky Asteroid Fields: 108–324 kg per cycle.
- Metallic Asteroid Fields: 94.5–283.5 kg per cycle.
- Sandy Ore Fields: 54–162 kg per cycle.
Once brought back to the colony, Pyrite serves as a convertible ore rather than a direct building material. It can be processed into 
Practical notes and interactions:
- Pyrite is primarily part of a rocket-driven supply chain. Plan long-term production and fuel use for rockets if relying on Pyrite as a steady iron source.
- Processing Pyrite requires the same facilities used for other ores: the Rock Crusher offers a simple crushing path, while the Metal Refinery provides more advanced metal production options. Choose the processing building that fits your colony’s power and automation constraints.
- Because Pyrite is obtained off-world, it can be integrated into closed-loop space logistics (store in rocket cargo bays, shuttle between rockets and ground storage, and schedule repeat missions to specific POIs).
- The real-world namesake is commonly called "fool's gold" because of its brassy color and metallic luster; this trivia is reflected in several in-game references and multilingual wiki entries.
No sources indicate natural ground deposits or in-situ mining of Pyrite within normal colony biomes; treat it as a space-exclusive ore for planning purposes.