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Chalcopyrite

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Tincroft Mine, Carn Brea and Tincroft United Mine, Carn Brea area, Camborne - Redruth - St Day District, Cornwall, England, UK
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Formula:
CuFeS
 
2
System:TetragonalColour:Brass yellow, often with ...
Lustre:MetallicHardness:3½ - 4
Name:From Greek "chalkos", copper, and "pyrites", strike fire.


Chalcopyrite Group.
Chalcopyrite-Eskebornite Series.

A major ore of copper. Common in sulfide veins and disseminated in igneous rocks.

Classification of Chalcopyrite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/C.03-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.CB.10a

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
B : With Zn, Fe, Cu, Ag, etc.
Dana 7th edition ID:2.9.1.1
Dana 8th edition ID:2.9.1.1

2 : SULFIDES
9 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:1
Hey's CIM Ref.:3.1.25

3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
1 : Sulphides etc. of Cu
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Occurrences of Chalcopyrite

Geological Setting:It is the most abundant copper-bearing mineral and is widespread. It is a primary mineral in hydrothermal veins, disseminations and massive replacements; the principal copper mineral of porphyry-copper deposits.

Physical Properties of Chalcopyrite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Brass yellow, often with an iridescent tarnish.
Streak:Greenish black
Hardness (Mohs):3½ - 4
Hardness (Vickers):VHN100=187
Hardness Data:Measured
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Poor/Indistinct
Indistinct on {011}, sometimes distinct.
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven
Density (measured):4.1 - 4.3 g/cm3
Density (calculated):4.18 g/cm3

Crystallography of Chalcopyrite

Crystal System:Tetragonal
Class (H-M):4 2m - Scalenohedral
Space Group:I4 2d
Cell Parameters:a = 5.289Å, c = 10.423Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 1.971
Unit Cell Volume:V 291.57 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Typically found as equant to wedge-shaped tetrahedral crystals, often modified by scalenohedral faces. Major deposits of massive material are known.
Twinning:Twinned on {112} and {012}, penetration or cyclic.
Crystal Atlas:
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Chalcopyrite no.13 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Chalcopyrite no.19 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Chalcopyrite no.37 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Chalcopyrite no.58 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

About Crystal Atlas

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The mindat.org Crystal Atlas allows you to view a selection of crystal drawings of real and idealised crystal forms for this mineral and, in certain cases, 3d rotating crystal objects. You need Java to see these. You can download Java for free - click here to download Java

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X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
3.04(100)
2.64(10)
1.87(20)
1.86(40)
1.59(300
1.57(10)
1.21(10)

Chemical Properties of Chalcopyrite

Formula:
CuFeS
 
2
Essential elements:Cu, Fe, S
All elements listed in formula:Cu, Fe, S
Common Impurities:Ag,Au,In,Tl,Se,Te

Relationship of Chalcopyrite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Eskebornite (see here)
Related to:
  • Chalcopyrite Group
    • Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

    - +
    2.CB.05aColoradoite
    HgTe
    2.CB.05aHawleyite
    CdS
    2.CB.05aMetacinnabar
    HgS
    2.CB.05cPolhemusite
    (Zn,Hg)S
    2.CB.05bSakuraiite
    (Cu,Zn,Fe)
     
    3
    		(In,Sn)S
     
    4
    2.CB.05aSphalerite
    (Zn,Fe
    2+
     
    		)S
    2.CB.05aStilleite
    ZnSe
    2.CB.05aTiemannite
    HgSe
    2.CB.05UM1998-15-S:CuFeZn
    Cu
     
    2
    		Fe
     
    3
    		Zn
     
    5
    		S
     
    10
    2.CB.05aRudashevskyite
    (Fe,Zn)S
    2.CB.10aEskebornite
    CuFeSe
     
    2
    2.CB.10aGallite
    CuGaS
     
    2
    2.CB.10bHaycockite
    Cu
     
    4
    		Fe
     
    5
    		S
     
    8
    2.CB.10aLenaite
    AgFeS
     
    2
    2.CB.10bMooihoekite
    Cu
     
    9
    		Fe
     
    9
    		S
     
    16
    2.CB.10bPutoranite
    Cu
     
    9
    		Fe
     
    9
    		S
     
    16
    2.CB.10aRoquesite
    CuInS
     
    2
    2.CB.10bTalnakhite
    Cu
     
    9
    		(Fe,Ni)
     
    8
    		S
     
    16
    2.CB.10aLaforêtite
    AgInS
     
    2
    2.CB.15aČernýite
    Cu
     
    2
    		(Cd,Zn,Fe)SnS
     
    4
    2.CB.15aFerrokësterite
    Cu
     
    2
    		(Fe,Zn)SnS
     
    4
    2.CB.15aHocartite
    Ag
     
    2
    		(Fe
    2+
     
    		,Zn)SnS
     
    4
    2.CB.15aIdaite
    Cu
     
    5
    		FeS
     
    6
    2.CB.15aKësterite
    Cu
     
    2
    		(Zn,Fe)SnS
     
    4
    2.CB.15aKuramite
    Cu
     
    3
    		SnS
     
    4
    2.CB.15bMohite
    Cu
     
    2
    		SnS
     
    3
    2.CB.15aPirquitasite
    Ag
     
    2
    		ZnSnS
     
    4
    2.CB.15aStannite
    Cu
     
    2
    		(Fe,Zn)SnS
     
    4
    2.CB.15cStannoidite
    Cu
    +
    6
    		Cu
    2+
    2
    		(Fe
    2+
     
    		,Zn)
     
    3
    		Sn
     
    2
    		S
     
    12
    2.CB.15aVelikite
    (Cu,Hg)
     
    11
    		Sn
     
    4
    		S
     
    16
    2.CB.15cUM2006-11-S:CuFeGeZn
    Cu
     
    8
    		(Fe,Zn)
     
    3
    		Ge
     
    2
    		S
     
    12
    		 (?)
    2.CB.20Chatkalite
    Cu
     
    6
    		FeSn
     
    2
    		S
     
    8
    2.CB.20Mawsonite
    Cu
     
    6
    		Fe
     
    2
    		SnS
     
    8
    2.CB.30Colusite
    Cu
     
    26
    		V
     
    2
    		(As,Sn,Sb)
     
    6
    		S
     
    32
    2.CB.30Germanite
    Cu
     
    13
    		Fe
     
    2
    		Ge
     
    2
    		S
     
    16
    2.CB.30Germanocolusite
    Cu
     
    26
    		V
     
    2
    		(Ge,As)
     
    6
    		S
     
    32
    2.CB.30Nekrasovite
    Cu
     
    26
    		V
     
    2
    		(Sn,As,Sb)
     
    6
    		S
     
    32
    2.CB.30Stibiocolusite
    Cu
     
    13
    		V
     
    4
    		(Sb,Sn,As)
     
    3
    		S
     
    16
    2.CB.30Ovamboite
    Cu
     
    20
    		(Fe,Cu,Zn)
     
    6
    		W
     
    2
    		Ge
     
    6
    		S
     
    32
    2.CB.30Maikainite
    Cu
     
    20
    		(Fe,Cu)
     
    6
    		Mo
     
    2
    		Ge
     
    6
    		S
     
    32
    2.CB.35aHemusite
    Cu
     
    6
    		SnMoS
     
    8
    2.CB.35aKiddcreekite
    Cu
     
    6
    		SnWS
     
    8
    2.CB.35aPolkovicite
    (Fe,Pb)
     
    3
    		(Ge,Fe)
     
    1-x
    		S
     
    4
    2.CB.35aRenierite
    (Cu,Zn)
     
    11
    		(Ge,As)
     
    2
    		Fe
     
    4
    		S
     
    16
    2.CB.35aVinciennite
    Cu
    +
    7
    		Cu
    2+
    3
    		Fe
    2+
    2
    		Fe
    3+
    2
    		Sn(As,Sb)S
     
    16
    2.CB.35aMorozeviczite
    (Pb,Fe)
     
    3
    		Ge
     
    1-x
    		S
     
    4
    2.CB.35bCatamarcaite
    Cu
     
    6
    		GeWS
     
    8
    2.CB.40Lautite
    CuAsS
    2.CB.45Cadmoselite
    CdSe
    2.CB.45Greenockite
    CdS
    2.CB.45Wurtzite
    (Zn,Fe)S
    2.CB.45Rambergite
    MnS
    2.CB.55aCubanite
    CuFe
     
    2
    		S
     
    3
    2.CB.55bIsocubanite
    CuFe
     
    2
    		S
     
    3
    2.CB.60Picotpaulite
    TlFe
     
    2
    		S
     
    3
    2.CB.60Raguinite
    TlFeS
     
    2
    2.CB.65Argentopyrite
    AgFe
     
    2
    		S
     
    3
    2.CB.65Sternbergite
    AgFe
     
    2
    		S
     
    3
    2.CB.70Sulvanite
    Cu
     
    3
    		VS
     
    4
    2.CB.75Vulcanite
    CuTe
    2.CB.80Empressite
    AgTe
    2.CB.85Muthmannite
    AuAgTe
     
    2
    Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

    - +
    3.1.1Chalcocite
    Cu
     
    2
    		S
    3.1.2Djurleite
    Cu
     
    31
    		S
     
    16
    3.1.3Digenite
    Cu
     
    9
    		S
     
    5
    3.1.4Anilite
    Cu
     
    7
    		S
     
    4
    3.1.5Roxbyite
    Cu
     
    9
    		S
     
    5
    3.1.6Spionkopite
    Cu
     
    39
    		S
     
    28
    3.1.7Geerite
    Cu
     
    8
    		S
     
    5
    3.1.8Covellite
    CuS
    3.1.9Berzelianite
    Cu
     
    2
    		Se
    3.1.10Bellidoite
    Cu
     
    2
    		Se
    3.1.11Umangite
    Cu
     
    3
    		Se
     
    2
    3.1.12Yarrowite
    Cu
     
    9
    		S
     
    8
    3.1.13Athabascaite
    Cu
     
    5
    		Se
     
    4
    3.1.14Klockmannite
    CuSe
    3.1.15Krut'aite
    CuSe
     
    2
    3.1.16Weissite
    Cu
     
    2-x
    		Te
    3.1.17Rickardite
    Cu
     
    7
    		Te
     
    5
    3.1.18Vulcanite
    CuTe
    3.1.19Bambollaite
    Cu(Se,Te)
     
    2
    3.1.20Lautite
    CuAsS
    3.1.21Mgriite
    Cu
     
    3
    		AsSe
     
    3
    3.1.22Cubanite
    CuFe
     
    2
    		S
     
    3
    3.1.23Bornite
    Cu
     
    5
    		FeS
     
    4
    3.1.24Fukuchilite
    Cu
     
    3
    		FeS
     
    8
    3.1.26Mooihoekite
    Cu
     
    9
    		Fe
     
    9
    		S
     
    16
    3.1.27Haycockite
    Cu
     
    4
    		Fe
     
    5
    		S
     
    8
    3.1.28Isocubanite
    CuFe
     
    2
    		S
     
    3
    3.1.29Idaite
    Cu
     
    5
    		FeS
     
    6
    3.1.30Nukundamite
    (Cu,Fe)
     
    4
    		S
     
    4
    3.1.31Putoranite
    Cu
     
    9
    		Fe
     
    9
    		S
     
    16
    3.1.32Orickite
    2CuFeS
     
    2
    		·H
     
    2
    		O
    3.1.33Eskebornite
    CuFeSe
     
    2
    3.1.34Chaméanite
    (Cu,Fe)
     
    4
    		As(Se,S)
     
    4
    3.1.35Talnakhite
    Cu
     
    9
    		(Fe,Ni)
     
    8
    		S
     
    16
    Related Minerals - Dana Grouping):

    - +
    2.9.1.0Stannite Group
    A
     
    2
    		BCX
     
    4

    Other Names for Chalcopyrite

    Synonyms:
    ChalkopyriteCopper PyritesCupropyriteGelferzKopparglasertz
    KupfereisenerzKupfereisenerzkiesKupferkisTowaniteYellow Copper
    Yellow Copper OreYellow Pyrite
    Other Languages:
    Basque:Kalkopirita
    Bulgarian:Халкопирит
    Catalan:Calcopirita
    Czech:Chalkopyrit
    Dutch:Chalcopyriet
    Finnish:Kuparikiisu
    French:Chalcopyrite
    Cuivre Jaune
    Cuivre Pyriteux
    Galician:Calcopirita
    German:Chalkopyrit
    Chalcopyrit
    Cupropyrit
    Gelbkupfererz
    Kupferkies
    Towanit
    Hebrew:כלקופיריט
    קלקופיריט
    Hungarian:Kalkopirit
    Italian:Calcopirite
    Rame giallo
    Japanese:黄銅鉱
    Lithuanian:Chalkopiritas
    Low Saxon:Chalkopyrit
    Norwegian (Bokmål):Kopperkis
    Polish:Chalkopiryt
    Portuguese:Calcopirita
    Romanian:Calcopirită
    Russian:Халькопирит
    Simplified Chinese:黃銅礦
    Slovak:Chalkopyrit
    Spanish:Chalcopirita
    Chalcopyrita
    Chalkopyrita
    Cupropyrita
    Pirita de Cobre
    Towanita
    Swedish:Kopparkis
    Ukrainian:Халькопірит
    Varieties:
    Auriferous ChalcopyriteBlister CopperStannian Chalcopyrite

    Other Information

    Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
    Industrial Uses:It is the principal ore of copper.

    References for Chalcopyrite

    Reference List:Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 834pp.: 219-224.

    Hall, S.R. and Stewart, J.M. (1973) The crystal structure refinement of chalcopyrite, CuFeS2. Acta Crystallographica: B29: 579-585.

    Hall, S.R. (1975) Crystal structures of the chalcpyrite series. Canadian Mineralogist: 13: 168-172.

    Robie, R.A., Wiggins, L.B., Barton, P.B., Jr., and Hemingway, B.S. (1985) Low-temperature heat capacity and entropy of chalcopyrite (CuFeS2): estimates of the standard molar enthalpy and Gibbs free energy of formation of chalcopyrite and bornite (Cu5FeS4). Journal of Chemical Thermodynamics: 17: 481-488.

    Gaines, Richard V., H. Catherine, W. Skinner, Eugene E. Foord, Brian Mason, Abraham Rosenzweig (1997), Dana's New Mineralogy : The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, 8th. edition: 87.

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    Localities for Chalcopyrite

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