Chalcocite

This Article is Under Construction





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Can you help make this a better article? What good localities have we missed? Can you supply pictures of better specimens than those we show here? Can you give us more and better information about the specimens from these localities? Can you supply better geological or historical information on these localities?



Chalcocite
Cu₂S Monoclinic

Chalcocite & Calcite, Levant Mine, Cornwall, England	©

Chalcocite, Bristol, Connecticut, USA ~2.5cm wide	©

Here will go a general discussion of chalcocite and chalcocite specimens.


Chalcocite
Australia
Queensland, Mt Isa - Cloncurry area, Gunpowder District, Mount Gordon, Mammoth Mine

Chalcocite 3.5cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Chalcocite 3.2cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Chalcocite 2.1cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Chalcocite
Australia
Western Australia, Pilbara Region, East Pilbara Shire, Telfer Mine


This mine produced some killer specimens, including sharp prisms as long as your finger, with excellent lustre. Sensation at Tucson several years back (2001?) with prices to match and illustrated on the front cover of Australian Journal of Mineralogy Vol. 12, No.1 (http://www.mineral.org.au/pubs/ajm.html).



Chalcocite
Chile
Atacama Region, Chañaral Province




Chalcocite
Congo, Democratic Republic of
Katanga (Shaba)

Chalcocite & Calcite 1.3cm tall	© fabreminerals.com

Chalcocite
Congo, Democratic Republic of
Bouenza Department, Boko Songho District, M'Passa Mine

Chalcocite 5cm tall	© Peter Haas

Chalcocite
Congo, Democratic Republic of
Katanga (Shaba), Kipushi, Kipushi Mine (Prince Léopold Mine)




Chalcocite
Germany
Baden-Württemberg, Black Forest, Wolfach, Oberwolfach, Rankach valley, Clara Mine




Chalcocite
Kazakhstan
Karagandy Province (Qaragandy Oblysy; Karaganda Oblast'), Dzhezkazgan (Zhezqazghan)

Chalcocite & Barite 10cm tall	© Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals

Chalcocite 2.7cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Chalcocite
Kazakhstan
Karagandy Province (Qaragandy Oblysy; Karaganda Oblast'), Dzhezkazgan (Zhezqazghan), Dzhezkazgan Mine (Zhezqazghan Mine)

Chalcocite 1.7cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Chalcocite
Namibia
Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Tsumeb

Chalcocite 2.4cm wide	© Kristalle and Crys

Chalcocite
Russia
Urals Region, Bogoslovsk




Chalcocite
UK
England, Cornwall

Chalcocite 2.5cm wide	© C. Stefano '09

Chalcocite 2.3cm tall	© CCURTO09

Chalcocite
UK
England, Cornwall, Camborne - Redruth - St Day District

Chalcocite 1.4cm	© Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals

Chalcocite
UK
England, Cornwall, Camborne - Redruth - St Day District, Illogan, Carn Brea and Tincroft United Mine, Carn Brea Mine (incl. Tregajorran Mine)

Chalcocite 2.6cm wide	© fabreminerals.com

Chalcocite
UK
England, Cornwall, Camborne - Redruth - St Day District, Illogan, Carn Brea and Tincroft United Mine, Cook's Kitchen Mine

Chalcocite 2.5cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Chalcocite
UK
England, Cornwall, Camborne - Redruth - St Day District, Illogan, Carn Brea and Tincroft United Mine, Tincroft Mine

Chalcocite ~4cm wide?	© J.Ralph

Chalcocite
UK
England, Cornwall, Mount's Bay District, Crowan, Crenver & Wheal Abraham (incl. Wheal Sarah; Great Drym Consols)




Chalcocite
UK
England, Cornwall, St Ives District, St Ives, St Ives Consols (incl. Wellesley Mine; Wheal Mary)

Chalcocite 4.5cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Chalcocite ~7cm tall	©

Chalcocite ~4cm wide	©

Chalcocite
UK
England, Cornwall, St Just District, St Just, Pendeen, Geevor Mine (North Levant Mine)

Chalcocite 2.5cm	© Steve Rust

Chalcocite
UK
England, Cornwall, St Just District, St Just, Trewellard, Levant Mine

Chalcocite on Calcite ~7.5cm wide	©

Chalcocite ~11cm wide	©

Chalcocite
USA
Arizona, Yavapai Co., Black Hills (Black Hill Range), Verde District, Jerome




Chalcocite
USA
Colorado, Clear Creek Co., Idaho Springs District




Chalcocite
USA
Connecticut, Hartford Co., Bristol, Bristol Copper Mine

Chalcocite & Calcite 3.9cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Chalcocite 4cm wide	© Collectors Edge

.

Chalcocite ~5cm wide	©

Chalcocite ~7.5cm wide	©

.

Chalcocite ~12.5cm wide	©

Chalcocite ~7cm tall	©

Chalcocite ~5cm wide	©

Chalcocite ~4cm tall	©

Chalcocite on Calcite ~7cm wide	© 2010 Harold Moritz

Chalcocite
USA
Montana, Silver Bow Co., Butte District (Summit Valley District)

Chalcocite ~3cm wide	©

Chalcocite 3cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Chalcocite
USA
Montana, Silver Bow Co., Butte District, Butte, East Colusa Mine




Chalcocite
USA
Montana, Silver Bow Co., Butte District, Butte, Steward Mine




Chalcocite
USA
New Jersey, Passaic Co., Little Falls Township, Houdaille Quarry (Consolidated Stone and Sand Company Quarry; Consolidated Quarry)




Chalcocite
USA
New Jersey, Somerset Co., Bridgewater Township, Chimney Rock Quarry (Houdaille Industries Quarry; The Bound Brook Quarry; Stavola Industries Quarry)

Chalcocite on Calcite 12.5cm wide	© EAS 2008

Chalcocite
USA
New Mexico, Grant Co., Santa Rita District, Santa Rita, Chino Mine (Santa Rita Pit; Santa Rita Mine)

Chalcocite coating Pyrite 1.8cm	© 2001 John H. Betts

Chalcocite
USA
New Mexico, Sandoval Co., San Pablo, Nacimiento Mine




Chalcocite
USA
New Mexico, Torrance Co., Scholle, Abo Mine




Chalcocite
USA
Texas, Clay Co.




Chalcocite
USA
Wisconsin, Rusk Co., Ladysmith, Flambeau Mine

Chalcocite 10cm wide	© 2003 John H. Betts

Chalcocite 3.6cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Chalcocite 6.5cm	© Rob Lavinsky

Chalcocite 11.5cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Chalcocite 2.7cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Chalcocite 3.4cm wide	© Weinrich Minerals, Inc.

Click here to view Best Minerals C and here for Best Minerals A to Z and here for Fast Navigation of completed Best Minerals articles.

Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.



Edited 20 time(s). Last edit at 08/24/2012 11:58AM by Ralph Bottrill.

Chalcocite
Flambeau Mine,
Ladysmith, Wiscsonsin, USA
4.4cm across

Ryan, I need you to upload the image to the mindat gallery and not just attach it to a thread posting. There are copyright considerations that must be addressed on the image upload page.

Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.

(1) Cornwall.

Chalcocite was very common in Cornish mines, but not everywhere well crystallized. The most famous localities are:

- Crenver and Wheal Abraham
- Botallack Mine
- Levant Mine
- St Ives Consols
- Tincroft Mine

Good ones also came from

- Dolcoath Mine
- Carn Brea Mine
- Cook's Kitchen Mine
- Geevor Mine
- various mines at Gwennap

There should be enough photos in the database, so we should only choose those with a proper locality given (not the generic "Redruth" specimens, which can originate from everywhere in the district, and also not those that are just labelled "Cornwall" - unless they are exceptional, of course). I also have another 30 Cornish specimens from well documented localities that are not yet photographed.

Habits are very variable, but there are were also all sorts of pseudomorphs occurring: bornite, djurleite, digenite, covellite and blister copper after chalcocite are known. Except for the blister copper pseudos, they often can't be conclusively identified by visual means only and thus, many specimens traded as chalcocites are actually another mineral. This happened to many djurleites from Geevor, Levant and Botallack, which were passed off as chalcocites before someone performed an analysis and found out what they really were. After this was known by local dealers, however, many specimens with a similar habit were traded as djurleites for exaggerated prices, although they were just chalcocites.

(2) M'Passa Mine, Congo:

Specimens from this mine are awesome, but very difficult to come by.

(3) Dzezkazghan:

Did also produce decent specimens, often in association with tennantite.

I don't think I inserted that picture of the Wisconsin chalcocite in the lead position in the article. I don't think they got good enough for that distinction. I have replaced it with a Cornwall specimen and a Bristol Connecticut specimen that are much better. After I finish the Pseudomorph article, Ill turn my attention to Chalcocite. For the most part I would agree with you about giving priority to those specimens where the specific locality is known, but if the specimen is fine enough, Ill put it in even though its locality is only general.

Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.

The Wisconsin specimen may be altered to bornite. Irridescence with chalcocites is usually suspect.

Ikaite and Glendonite.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/05/2011 02:07AM by Rock Currier.

WERI2011

Is the Ikaite a real Ikaite and of so where is it from and how large is it and what steps were taken to preserve it? Where is the glendonite and where is it from?

Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.

And, more importantly, in which way are they related to chalcocite ??

Peter!, didn't you know that Ikaites were really chalcocite according to the latest nomenclature changes? I think they are now somewhere in the new pyrochlore group. Maybe I got that wrong, it is so hard to keep up with the latest changes.

Yes, he should have put his posting over in the Pseudomorphs A to C thread.

Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.

iridescence is what the Wisconsin chalcocite is famous for. it is actually a coating of bornite

-Rowan Lytle

son: -picks up huge loose amethyst cluster- "Is this what we're looking for?"
father: "Holy #$@%!

Rock,

Here's another chalcocite replacing wood from the Nacimiento Copper Mine, Sandoval County, New Mexico, USA.

Philip




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/23/2012 09:33AM by Jolyon Ralph.

Hello Rock,

Didn't know you had it in you, but your reply to Peter was brilliant. It sure put a smile on my face. Thanks

The Cananea district, and specifically the Capote Mine in Sonora, Mexico, have produced fine specimens of Chalcosite in the past. See [www.mindat.org]. John S.

One chalcocite locality that is missing is the Telfer gold mine in Western Australia. Produced some killer specimens, including sharp prisms as long as your finger, with excellent lustre. Sensation at Tucson several years back (2001?) with prices to match and illustrated on the front cover of Australian Journal of Mineralogy Vol. 12, No.1 (http://www.mineral.org.au/pubs/ajm.html). Unfortunately only one photo on Mindat, and I don't have any to add.
Cheers,

Ben.

Good point Ben, I just attached one photo, but more are welcome of these world class chalcocites.

Regards,
Ralph

Philip,
Thats quite interesting. Ill put it into the article when I get a chance.

Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.

Very nice. Ill put it in the article when I get the chance.

Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.