Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Chalcocite

Big Photo

Mammoth Mine, Mt Isa, Mt Isa - Cloncurry area, Queensland, Australia
© Rob Lavinsky

Show Chalcocite Photos (195)
Formula:
Cu
 
2
S
System:MonoclinicColour:Blue black, gray, black, ...
Lustre:MetallicHardness:2½ - 3
Name:From Greek, "chalkos", copper.


Chalcocite-Digenite Group. Chalcocite-Yarrowite Series.

A secondary mineral in or near the oxidized zone of copper sulfide deposits. Hexagonal above 105 degrees celsius.

Classification of Chalcocite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/B.01-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.BA.05

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
A : With Cu, Ag, Au
Dana 8th edition ID:2.4.7.1

2 : SULFIDES
4 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 2:1
Hey's CIM Ref.:3.1.1

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
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-962.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Physical Properties of Chalcocite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Blue black, gray, black, black gray, or steel gray
Streak:Blackish lead gray
Hardness (Mohs):2½ - 3
Hardness (Vickers):VHN100=84 - 87 kg/mm2
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Poor/Indistinct
Indistinct on (110)
Fracture:Conchoidal
Comment:Somewhat sectile
Density (measured):5.5 - 5.8 g/cm3
Density (calculated):5.8 g/cm3

Crystallography of Chalcocite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P21/b (P1 1 21/b) [P21/c] {P1 21/c 1} {P21/a}
Cell Parameters:a = 11.82Å, b = 27.05Å, c = 13.43Å
β = 90°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.437 : 1 : 0.496
Unit Cell Volume:V 4,293.99 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:96
Twinning:Common on {110} yeilding pseudohexagonal stellate forms. Also on {032} {112}
Comment:May be Point group m and Space group Pc
Crystal Atlas:
Image Loading
Click on an icon to view
Chalcocite no.48 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Chalcocite - Penetration twin on {032}
Chalcocite - Multiple twin on {110}

About Crystal Atlas

You may need to scroll this box using your mouse to view the full instructions.

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

The 3d models and java code are kindly provided by www.smorf.nl. You can control the movement of the models by holding down the left mouse-button over the 3d model and moving your mouse. Keyboard controls are:

: default positions
t/T: decrease/increase transparency x/X: next/previous texture
b/B: next/previous background w: toggle wireframe
s: toggle sticks m: toggle miller indices
k: toggle crystallographic axes =/-: zoom in/out
r: stop/start rotation 1/2/3


Note: You will not be able to switch between different crystal models using the Opera 8.5x web browser due to a bug in Opera - you need to use either Firefox or Internet Explorer 6/7 or Opera 9.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

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.

Optical Data of Chalcocite

Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Weak

Chemical Properties of Chalcocite

Formula:
Cu
 
2
S
Essential elements:Cu, S
All elements listed in formula:Cu, S
Common Impurities:Fe

Relationship of Chalcocite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Yarrowite (see here)
Related to:
  • Chalcocite-Digenite Group
    • Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
    2.BA.05Djurleite
    Cu
     
    31
    		S
     
    16
    2.BA.05Geerite
    Cu
     
    8
    		S
     
    5
    2.BA.05Roxbyite
    Cu
     
    9
    		S
     
    5
    2.BA.10Anilite
    Cu
     
    7
    		S
     
    4
    2.BA.10Digenite
    Cu
     
    9
    		S
     
    5
    2.BA.15Bornite
    Cu
     
    5
    		FeS
     
    4
    2.BA.20Bellidoite
    Cu
     
    2
    		Se
    2.BA.20Berzelianite
    Cu
     
    2
    		Se
    2.BA.25Athabascaite
    Cu
     
    5
    		Se
     
    4
    2.BA.25Umangite
    Cu
     
    3
    		Se
     
    2
    2.BA.30Rickardite
    Cu
     
    7
    		Te
     
    5
    2.BA.30Weissite
    Cu
     
    2-x
    		Te
    2.BA.35Acanthite
    Ag
     
    2
    		S
    2.BA.35Argentite
    2.BA.40Mckinstryite
    (Ag,Cu)
     
    2
    		S
    2.BA.40Stromeyerite
    AgCuS
    2.BA.45Jalpaite
    Ag
     
    3
    		CuS
     
    2
    2.BA.45Selenojalpaite
    Ag
     
    3
    		CuSe
     
    2
    2.BA.50Eucairite
    AgCuSe
    2.BA.55Aguilarite
    Ag
     
    4
    		SeS
    2.BA.55Naumannite
    Ag
     
    2
    		Se
    2.BA.60Cervelleite
    Ag
     
    4
    		TeS
    2.BA.60Hessite
    Ag
     
    2
    		Te
    2.BA.65Henryite
    Ag
     
    3
    		Cu
     
    4
    		Te
     
    4
    2.BA.65Stützite
    Ag
     
    7
    		Te
     
    4
    2.BA.70Argyrodite
    Ag
     
    8
    		GeS
     
    6
    2.BA.70Canfieldite
    Ag
     
    8
    		(Sn,Ge)(S,Te)
     
    6
    2.BA.70Putzite
    (Cu
     
    4.7
    		Ag
     
    3.3
    		)GeS
     
    6
    2.BA.75Fischesserite
    Ag
     
    3
    		AuSe
     
    2
    2.BA.75Penzhinite
    (Ag,Cu)
     
    4
    		Au(S,Se)
     
    4
    2.BA.75Petrovskaite
    AuAg(S,Se)
    2.BA.75Petzite
    Ag
     
    3
    		AuTe
     
    2
    2.BA.75Uytenbogaardtite
    Ag
     
    3
    		AuS
     
    2
    2.BA.80Bezsmertnovite
    (Au,Ag)
     
    4
    		Cu(Te,Pb)
    2.BA.80Bilibinskite
    PbCuAu
     
    3
    		Te
     
    2
    2.BA.80Bogdanovite
    (Au,Te,Pb)
     
    3
    		(Cu,Fe)
    Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
    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
    3.1.25Chalcopyrite
    CuFeS
     
    2
    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

    Other Names for Chalcocite

    Synonyms:
    CalcociteCalcosinaChalcocineChalcosineChalcosite
    Copper GlanceCupreinCupreineCypriteKuprein
    RedruthiteVitreous Copper
    French names:
    Cuivre SpiciformeCuivre Sulfuré SpiciformeCuivre Vitreux
    German names:
    ChalkosinChalcocitChalcositCypritKupferglanz
    Kupferglanz-βKupferglasertzKupferglaserzLecherzRedruthit
    Italian names:
    Rame grigio
    Latin names:
    Aes cyprium apud plinium appellatur cuprumAes rude plumbei coloris
    Russian names:
    Халькозин
    Spanish names:
    CalcositaChalcocitaChalcositaCypritaRedruthita
    Swedish names:
    KopparglansKoppar-Glas (of Wallerius)
    Varieties:
    Argentiferous ChalcociteDucktownitePara-Kupferglanz

    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.

    References for Chalcocite

    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.: 187-190.

    Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 150: 299-320.

    Cook, W.R. (1972), Instability of chalcocite: Mineralogical Record: 3: 15.

    Internet Links for Chalcocite

    Search Engines:
  • Look for Chalcocite on Google
  • Look for Chalcocite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Chalcocite on Webmineral
  • Look for Chalcocite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Chalcocite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Chalcocite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Chalcocite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Chalcocite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Find Chalcocite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • Search for Chalcocite on minvision.com
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Chalcocite specimens
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
  • e-Rocks - Mineral Auctions and Sales
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Search for Chalcocite at Thames Valley Minerals
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to find out how you can sponsor this page.

    Localities for Chalcocite

    Show Locality List (3099 Items)
    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    These maps work faster with Firefox!
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2008. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.