Mineralogy Database

Chalcopyrite Mineral Data

Search Webmineral :
  

General Chalcopyrite Information

Help on Chemical  Formula: Chemical Formula: CuFeS2
Help on Composition: Composition: Molecular Weight = 183.53 gm
   Iron    30.43 %  Fe
   Copper  34.63 %  Cu
   Sulfur  34.94 %  S
          ______ 
          100.00 % 
Help on Empirical Formula: Empirical Formula: CuFe2+S2
Help on Environment: Environment: Common in sulfide veins and disseminated in igneous rocks.
Help on IMA Status: IMA Status: Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1747
Help on Locality: Locality: Numerous localities world wide. The most economically important mineral in porphyry copper deposits. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.
Help on Name Origin: Name Origin: From the Greek, chalkos, "copper" hence "Copper Pyrite."
Help on Name Pronunciation: Name Pronunciation: Chalcopyrite + Pronunciation Say CHALCOPYRITE
Help on Synonym: Synonym: ICSD 2518
  PDF 35-752
 

Chalcopyrite Image

Click Here for Larger   Image in a New Browser Window Images:
Click Here for Larger   Image

  Chalcopyrite   Quartz

Comments: Well-formed crystals of chalcopyrite and quartz.
Location: Boldut mine, 61 level (350 meters deep), Cavnic, Maramures, Rumania. Scale: 5.5 x 3.5 cm.
© Fabre Minerals

Click Here for Larger   Image in a New Browser Window Images:
Click Here for Larger   Image

  Moncheite   Chalcopyrite

Comments: White moncheite with chalcopyrite (orange, blue and violet tarnishing colors) in silicate matrix. Polished section (from microprobe analysis) in reflected light.
Location: Lukkulaisvaara ultrabasic Massif, Olanga (Oulanka) River, Oulanka plutonic complex, Karelia Republic, Northern Region, Russia. Scale: Picture size 0.11 mm.
© Thomas Witzke / Abraxas-Verlag

Click Here for Larger   Image in a New Browser Window Images:
Click Here for Larger   Image

  Oulankaite   Telargpalite   Tulameenite   Chalcopyrite

Comments: Gray long-prismatic crystal of oulankaite with light grayish telargpalite and pale yellowish-white rims of tulameenite in massive yellowish chalcopyrite. Polished section (from microprobe analysis) in reflected light.
Location: Lukkulaisvaara ultrabasic Massif, Olanga (Oulanka) River, Oulanka plutonic complex, Karelia Republic, Northern Region, Russia. Scale: Picture size 0.12 mm.
© Thomas Witzke / Abraxas-Verlag

Chalcopyrite Crystallography

Help on Axial Ratios: Axial Ratios: a:c = 1:1.97159
Help on Cell Dimensions: Cell Dimensions: a = 5.28, c = 10.41, Z = 4; V = 290.21 Den(Calc)= 4.20
Help on Crystal System: Crystal System: Tetragonal - Scalenohedral H-M Symbol (4 2m) Space Group: I 42d
Help on X Ray Diffraction: X Ray Diffraction: By Intensity(I/Io): 3.03(1), 1.854(0.8), 1.591(0.6),
Help on Forms: Forms:

Mouse
Dbl Clk - Start-Stop Rotation
RMB - Cycle Display Modes
Drag1 - Manipulate Crystal
Drag2 - Resize

Keyboard
S - Stereo
I - Indicies
<space> - Start-Stop Rotation
F - Fit to Screen
M - Menu

Help on Above

Forms: ( 1 1 1) ( 1 1 1)

Warning: this java applet does not work in some browsers because of security restrictions.

 

Physical Properties of Chalcopyrite

Help on Cleavage: Cleavage: {112} Indistinct
Help on Color: Color: Brass yellow, Honey yellow.
Help on Density: Density: 4.1 - 4.3, Average = 4.19
Help on Diaphaneity: Diaphaneity: Opaque
Help on Fracture: Fracture: Brittle - Generally displayed by glasses and most non-metallic minerals.
Help on Habit: Habit: Druse - Crystal growth in a cavity which results in numerous crystal tipped surfaces.
Help on Habit: Habit: Euhedral Crystals - Occurs as well-formed crystals showing good external form.
Help on Habit: Habit: Striated - Parallel lines on crystal surface or cleavage face.
Help on Hardness: Hardness: 3.5 - Copper Penny
Help on Luminescence: Luminescence: Non-fluorescent.
Help on Luster: Luster: Metallic
Help on Magnetism: Magnetism: Magnetic after heating
Help on Streak: Streak: greenish black
 

Optical Properties of Chalcopyrite

Help on RL Anisotrophism: RL Anisotrophism: Weak.
Help on Reflectivity Reflectivity
Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Chalcopyrite in Air
λ R1 R2  ∑ R1(λ)   ∑ R2(λ) 
 400 nm   12.60   14.80 
   
 420 nm   16.30   18.00 
 440 nm   20.00   21.20 
 460 nm   23.60   25.00 
 480 nm   27.00   28.60 
 500 nm   30.20   31.70 
 520 nm   33.00   34.30 
 540 nm   35.10   36.40 
 560 nm   36.80   38.00 
 580 nm   38.20   39.30 
 600 nm   39.30   40.40 
 620 nm   40.10   41.00 
 640 nm   40.70   41.60 
 660 nm   41.10   41.90 
 680 nm   41.40   42.00 
 700 nm   41.40   41.80 
Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Chalcopyrite in Air
Relative
Intensity
   0%   50% 100% 150% 200% 250% 300% 350% 400% 420%
R1                    
R2                    
 

Calculated Properties of Chalcopyrite

Help on Electron Density: Electron Density: Bulk Density (Electron Density)=3.98 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Chalcopyrite =4.20 gm/cc.
Help on Fermion Index: Fermion Index: Fermion Index = 0.0090720414
Boson Index = 0.9909279586
Help on Photoelectric: Photoelectric: PEChalcopyrite = 26.59 barns/electron
U=PEChalcopyrite x rElectron Density= 105.88 barns/cc.
Help on Radioactivity: Radioactivity: GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Chalcopyrite is Not Radioactive
 

Chalcopyrite Classification

Help on  Dana Class: Dana Class: 02.09.01.01 (02)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides
  (02.09)where Am Bn Xp, with (m+n):p=1:1
  (02.09.01)Chalcopyrite Group (Tetragonal: I-42d)
 
02.09.01.01 Chalcopyrite CuFeS2 I 42d 4 2m
 
02.09.01.02 Eskebornite CuFeSe2 I 42d 4 2m
 
02.09.01.03 Gallite CuGaS2 I 42d 4 2m
 
02.09.01.04 Roquesite CuInS2 I 42d 4 2m
 
02.09.01.05 Lenaite AgFeS2 P 42mc 4mm
 
02.09.01.06 Laforetite! AgInS2 I 42d 4 2m
Help on  Strunz Class: Strunz Class: 02.CB.10a 02 - SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulf
  02.C - Metal Sulfides, M:S = 1:1 (and similar)
  02.CB -With Zn, Fe, Cu, Ag, Au, etc
 
02.CB.10a Chalcopyrite CuFeS2 I 42d 4 2m
 
02.CB.10a Eskebornite CuFeSe2 I 42d 4 2m
 
02.CB.10a Gallite CuGaS2 I 42d 4 2m
 
02.CB.10a Laforetite! AgInS2 I 42d 4 2m
 
02.CB.10a Lenaite AgFeS2 P 42mc 4mm
 
02.CB.10a Roquesite CuInS2 I 42d 4 2m
 

Other Chalcopyrite Information

Help on References: References: NAME( Sinkankas66) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)
Help on See Also: See Also: Links to other databases for Chalcopyrite :
1 - Alkali-Nuts(English)
2 - Alkali-Nuts(Francais)
3 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
4 - Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery
5 - Athena
6 - EUROmin Project
7 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
8 - Franklin Minerals(Dunn)
9 - Franklin Minerals(Palache)
10 - GeoScienceWorld
11 - Glendale Community College
12 - Google Images
13 - Google Scholar
14 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
15 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
16 - HyperPhysics
17 - MinDAT
18 - Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom
19 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
20 - Online Mineral Museum
21 - Philatelic Mineralogy
22 - QUT Mineral Atlas
23 - Ruff.Info
24 - Scandinavian mineral gallery
25 - WWW-MINCRYST

Search for Chalcopyrite using:

Google
 
Web webmineral.com
[AOL] [Bing] [Dog Pile] [GeoScienceWorld] [HotBot] [Ixquick] [Lycos] [MAMMA] [Scirus] [Teoma] [WebCrawler] [Wikipedia] [YAHOO]

Visit our Advertisers for Chalcopyrite :

Ask about Chalcopyrite here :
Ask-A-Mineralogist from the Mineralogical Society of America
Mindat.org's Discussion Groups
Original Rockhounds Discussion Group
Rockhounds Discussion Group on Yahoo Groups
Mineral Discussion Forum from Fabre Minerals - also available in Espa�ol

Print or Cut-and-Paste your Chalcopyrite Specimen Label here :

Chalcopyrite

CuFeS2
Dana No: 02.09.01.01 Strunz No: 02.CB.10a
Locality:

 

Notes:

 

 
   
 


Dakota Matrix
Excalibur Minerals
Exceptional Minerals
Hudson Insitute
John Betts Fine Minerals
Mc Dougall Minerals
Mineral News
Rock and Mineral Shows
Weinrich Minerals, Inc.