Collection: Chalcopyrite

Chalcopyrite is a very important mineral , mainly mined for its copper .

🔹 Chalcopyrite Identity Card

• Chemical formula : CuFeS₂ (copper iron sulfide)

• Color : brass yellow, sometimes iridescent (blue, green, purple reflections)

• Shine : metallic

• Crystal system : tetragonal

• Hardness (Mohs scale) : 3.5 to 4

• Specific gravity : ~4.1 to 4.3

• Line (mineral powder): greenish black

🧪 Composition and training

• Chalcopyrite is a mixed sulfide of copper and iron.

• It forms in hydrothermal deposits (hot liquids from the Earth's crust) and in certain magmatic deposits .

• It is the most abundant copper ore in the Earth's crust .

🛠️ Use

• Main source of copper : About 50% of the world's copper comes from chalcopyrite.

• Sometimes used as a secondary iron ore .

• No use as a gemstone due to its low hardness, but it is sometimes collected for its beauty.

🌍 Where can we find it?

The main producing countries are:

• Chile , Peru , United States , Canada , Australia , Zambia ...

• It is often found associated with other minerals such as pyrite, galena or sphalerite.

❗Not to be confused with:

• Pyrite (FeS₂) : often called “fool’s gold”, harder and more golden in color.

• Bornite (Cu₅FeS₄) : also called “peacock ore” because of its multi-colored reflections.

💡 Interesting Facts

• Chalcopyrite can be altered to malachite , azurite , or cuprite (other copper minerals).

• By exposing chalcopyrite to air and moisture, it can oxidize and produce sulfuric acid in certain mining environments (acid mine drainage phenomenon).