chalcophyrite
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Chalcopyrite was the mineral upon which Bronze Age civilizations were built. Within the last century, it also became the mineral foundation for our modern electrical age. Our primary source of copper, chalcopyrite’s name comes from the Greek words ‘chalkos’ and ‘pyrites’, which respectively mean ‘copper’ and ‘striking fire’. With its metallic luster and bright golden color, chalcopyrite can fool people into thinking it is gold. It is one of two minerals, the other being pyrite, that are commonly known as ‘fool’s gold’.
Description and Identifying Characteristics
Chalcopyrite is a striking, bright yellow, metallic mineral that occurs in nearly all sulfide deposits. Initially, it may be easy to confuse chalcopyrite, or copper pyrite (CuFeS2), with pyrite (FeS2), but the two can be distinguished by their relative hardness and chalcopyrite’s iridescent tarnish. Pyrite is the harder of the two and cannot be easily scratched by a nail, unlike chalcopyrite. In its massive variety, chalcopyrite is one of the minerals most often mistaken for gold. While gold is ductile and malleable, chalcopyrite is brittle and will shatter if struck.
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In Our Earth: The Geologic Importance of Chalcopyrite
Chalcopyrite is easily the most widespread copper-bearing mineral. A common mineral found in almost all sulfide deposits, chalcopyrite usually occurs in medium-temperature and high-temperature hydrothermal veins in igneous rocks or metamorphosed igneous rocks. Some economic chalcopyrite deposits form as hydrothermal fluids dissolve copper from igneous rocks and then precipitate it in surrounding contact-metamorphosed sedimentary rocks. Chalcopyrite is most often found with pyrite and other sulfide minerals, as well as sphalerite, galena, dolomite, tourmaline or quartz. It can oxidize to form a number of minerals such as malachite, azurite, and cuprite.
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In Our Society: The Economic Importance of Chalcopyrite
Throughout human history,
Chalcopyrite was the mineral upon which Bronze Age civilizations were built. Within the last century, it also became the mineral foundation for our modern electrical age. Our primary source of copper, chalcopyrite’s name comes from the Greek words ‘chalkos’ and ‘pyrites’, which respectively mean ‘copper’ and ‘striking fire’. With its metallic luster and bright golden color, chalcopyrite can fool people into thinking it is gold. It is one of two minerals, the other being pyrite, that are commonly known as ‘fool’s gold’.
Description and Identifying Characteristics
Chalcopyrite is a striking, bright yellow, metallic mineral that occurs in nearly all sulfide deposits. Initially, it may be easy to confuse chalcopyrite, or copper pyrite (CuFeS2), with pyrite (FeS2), but the two can be distinguished by their relative hardness and chalcopyrite’s iridescent tarnish. Pyrite is the harder of the two and cannot be easily scratched by a nail, unlike chalcopyrite. In its massive variety, chalcopyrite is one of the minerals most often mistaken for gold. While gold is ductile and malleable, chalcopyrite is brittle and will shatter if struck.
^ Top
In Our Earth: The Geologic Importance of Chalcopyrite
Chalcopyrite is easily the most widespread copper-bearing mineral. A common mineral found in almost all sulfide deposits, chalcopyrite usually occurs in medium-temperature and high-temperature hydrothermal veins in igneous rocks or metamorphosed igneous rocks. Some economic chalcopyrite deposits form as hydrothermal fluids dissolve copper from igneous rocks and then precipitate it in surrounding contact-metamorphosed sedimentary rocks. Chalcopyrite is most often found with pyrite and other sulfide minerals, as well as sphalerite, galena, dolomite, tourmaline or quartz. It can oxidize to form a number of minerals such as malachite, azurite, and cuprite.
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In Our Society: The Economic Importance of Chalcopyrite
Throughout human history,