Chalcopyrite

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Chalcopyrite
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Chalcopyrite

• Chemistry CuFeS2, Copper Iron Sulfide
• Class Sulfides
• Group Chalcopyrite
• Uses Major ore of copper

http//www.galleries.com/minerals/sulfides/chalcop
y/chalcopy.htm
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Physical Characteristics

• Color is brassy yellow, tarnishes to iridescent
  blues, greens, yellows and purples.
• Luster is metallic.
• Transparency Crystals are opaque.
• Crystal System is tetragonal bar 4 2m
• Crystal Habits are predominantly the disphenoid
  which is like two opposing wedges and resembles a
  tetrahedron. Crystals sometimes twinned. Also
  commonly massive, and sometimes botryoidal.
• Cleavage is rather poor in one direction.
• Fracture is conchoidal and brittle.
• Hardness is 3.5-4
• Specific Gravity is approximately 4.2 (average
  for metallic minerals)
• Streak is dark green.
• Other Characteristics Some striations on most
  crystal faces.
• Associated Minerals are quartz, fluorite, barite,
  dolomite, calcite, pentlandite, pyrite and other
  sulfides.
• Notable Occurrences include Chile, Peru, Mexico,
  Europe, South Africa, several USA sites and many
  others around the world.
• Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, tarnish,
  softness and brittleness.

http//www.galleries.com/minerals/sulfides/chalcop
y/chalcopy.htm
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Occurrence

• Sulfide deposits
• Coals seams with pyrite nodules
  (http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chalcopyrite)
• Massive and vein deposits

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Uses

• Most important copper ore

http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chalcopyrite
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MineralsSulfidesChalcopyriteCLP-26