The kinetics of pyrite oxidation by nitric acid was studied by the rotating disk method. The conditions of kinetically and diffusion-controlled processes were determined. At nitric acid concentrations below 9 mol/dm(3), the reaction proceeded in a mixed mode close to kinetically controlled, and the products of acid reduction had an autocatalytic action on the rate of pyrite oxidation. At HNO3 concentrations exceeding 11 mol/dm(3). the reaction proceeded in a mixed mode close to diffusion-controlled, and the rate of the reaction sharply decreased. The reason why pyrite reacted with concentrated nitric acid at a low rate was a decrease in the solubility of reaction products.