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Download hereGENERAL DESCRIPTION
Chalcopyrite is a copper and iron sulphide which forms in most copper deposits, within high temperature hydrothermal veins and in some magmatic rocks called « hypo-volcanic » such as the "porphyry-coppers" (a kind of rhyolite). It is regularly associated other sulphides and minerals of copper, such as galena and pyrite.
Chalcopyrite crystals show a yellow brass to greenish yellow color. They have a strong metallic lustre and display often beautiful irisations. They tend to blacken, in contact with air. The crystals are generally tetrahedral in shape, but chalcopyrite can be also presented as compact masses.
Chalcopyrite is a relatively frequent ore mineral. It exists in many deposits because it constitutes the principal source of copper. However, beautiful crystals are not frequent. They come from Courtenay in British Columbia in Canada (crystals of 3 cm), the mine of Bird Camp in Colorado in the United States (crystals of 7,5 cm and twinned crystals of 3 cm), Ani (Japan), Baia Sprie and Baia Pond (Romania), Seigen (Germany) and Saint-Agnes (England), Peru, among many localities.
In France, chalcopyrite is also present in all the crystalline massifs, such as at the La Gardette mine (Isère), the Les Farges mine (Corrèze), Sainte-Marie aux Mines (Haut-Rhin), the mine of Montroc (Tarn), although there are many other mines which have produced interesting samples.
The place of conservation of this type is not known.
Did you know? Chalcopyrite is also known as the "fools’ gold" because of its gold-like (confusing) color
HISTORY : Name derived from Greek words "χαλκοσ" [khalkos] meaning copper and "πυροσ" [pyros] meaning "fire"
Species described in 1725 by Johann Friedrich Henckel (1679-1744), director of Freiberg Mines
Type-locality : unknown
CHEMICAL FORMULA : Cu Fe S2
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Hexagonal
COLOR : Yellow brass, iridescent
DIAPHANIETY : Opaque
LUSTER : Metallic
STREAK : Greenish black
MORPHOLOGIE : Tetrahedral crystals. More often compact
HARDNESS : 3,5-4,0
CHEMICAL CLASS: 4,283
DENSITY : II - Sulfures, sulfosels
GROUP : Chalcopyrite
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 2/C.03-10
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 2.CB.10
