Chalcopyrite

Chalcopyrite
General
CategorySulfide mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)		CuFeS2
IMA symbolCcp[1]
Strunz classification2.CB.10a
Crystal systemTetragonal
Crystal classScalenohedral (42m)
H-M symbol: (4 2m)
Space groupI42d
Unit cella = 5.289 Å,
c = 10.423 Å; Z = 4
Identification
Formula mass183.54 g/mol
ColorBrass yellow, may have iridescent purplish tarnish.
Crystal habitPredominantly the disphenoid and resembles a tetrahedron, commonly massive, and sometimes botryoidal.
TwinningPenetration twins
CleavageIndistinct on {011}
FractureIrregular to uneven
TenacityBrittle
Mohs scale hardness3.5–4
LusterMetallic
StreakGreenish black
DiaphaneityOpaque
Specific gravity4.1–4.3
Optical propertiesOpaque
SolubilitySoluble in HNO3
Other characteristicsmagnetic on heating
References[2][3][4][5][6]

Chalcopyrite (/ˌkælkəˈpaɪˌraɪt, -koʊ-/[7][8] KAL-kə-PY-ryte, -⁠koh-) is a copper iron sulfide mineral and the most abundant copper ore mineral. It has the chemical formula CuFeS2 and crystallizes in the tetragonal system. It has a brassy to golden yellow color and a hardness of 3.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale. Its streak is diagnostic as green-tinged black.[9]

On exposure to air, chalcopyrite tarnishes to a variety of oxides, hydroxides, and sulfates. Associated copper minerals include the sulfides bornite (Cu5FeS4), chalcocite (Cu2S), covellite (CuS), digenite (Cu9S5); carbonates such as malachite and azurite, and rarely oxides such as cuprite (Cu2O). It is rarely found in association with native copper. Chalcopyrite is a conductor of electricity.[10]

Copper can be extracted from chalcopyrite ore using various methods. The two predominant methods are pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy, the former being the most commercially viable.[11]

  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ Klein, Cornelis and Cornelius S. Hurlbut, Jr., Manual of Mineralogy, Wiley, 20th ed., 1985, pp. 277 – 278 ISBN 0-471-80580-7
  3. ^ Palache, C., H. Berman, and C. Frondel (1944) Dana’s system of mineralogy, (7th edition), v. I, 219–224
  4. ^ "Chalcopyrite". Mindat.org.
  5. ^ Chalcopyrite data on Webmineral.com
  6. ^ Chalcopyrite in the Handbook of Mineralogy
  7. ^ "chalcopyrite". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 2020-03-22.
  8. ^ "chalcopyrite". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
  9. ^ Haldar, S. K. (2020-01-01), Haldar, S. K. (ed.), "Chapter 1 - Minerals and rocks", Introduction to Mineralogy and Petrology (Second Edition), Oxford: Elsevier, pp. 1–51, doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-820585-3.00001-6, ISBN 978-0-12-820585-3, S2CID 226592959, retrieved 2023-02-10
  10. ^ Havlík, Tomáš (2008-01-01), Havlík, Tomáš (ed.), "Chapter 10 - Effect of The Electronic Structure on leaching of Sulphide Semiconductors", Hydrometallurgy, Woodhead Publishing Series in Metals and Surface Engineering, Woodhead Publishing, pp. 294–308, doi:10.1533/9781845694616.294, ISBN 978-1-84569-407-4, retrieved 2023-02-10
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference Daehn-2022 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).