SULFIDES Flashcards
CuS2
Chalcocite
Most commonly massive and very fine-grained. If in orthorhombic crystals, usually small and tabular with hexagonal outline.
Crystal form of Chalcocite
What is the cleavage of chalcocite
Prismatic {110} poor. Fracture conchoidal
What is the hardness of chalcocite?
2.5 - 3. Imperfectly sectile
What is the specific gravity of chalcocite?
5.5 - 5.8
It occurs as a primary mineral in hydrothermal veins, with bornite, chalcopyrite, enargite, and pyrite.
Chalcocite
Its most common occurrence is as a supergene mineral in enriched zones of sulfide deposits, often forming “_______” at the level of the water table.
chalcocite blankets
Cu5FeS4
Bornite
Rarely in tetragonal crystals; usually massive.
Crystal form of bornite
Hardness of bornite
3
What is the color of chalcocite?
Shining lead gray, tarnished to dull black upon exposure.
What is the specific gravity of bornite?
5.06-5.08
What is the color of bornite?
Brownish bronze on fresh surface but quickly tarnished to variegated purple and blue (hence
called peacock ore) and finally to almost black on exposure.
Commonly associated with other sulfides such as chalcocite, chalcopyrite, covellite, pyrrhotite,
and pyrite in hypogene deposits. It occurs less frequently as a supergene mineral in the upper
enriched parts of copper veins.
Bornite
PbS
Galena
Isometric crystals with the most common form the cube, sometimes truncated by the octahedron. Commonly in coarse- to fine-grained cleavable and granular masses.
crystal form of galena
What is the cleavage of galena?
Cubic {001} perfect
What is the hardness of galena?
2.5
What is the specific gravity of galena?
7.4 - 7.6
What is the color of galena?
Lead-gray with lead-gray streak.
Common metallic sulfide, found in veins associated with sphalerite, marcasite,
chalcopyrite, cerussite, anglesite, calcite, quartz, barite, and fluorite.
Galena
ZnS
Sphalerite
Isometric with the tetrahedron, dodecahedron, and cube as common forms. Crystals are frequently highly complex and usually malformed or in rounded aggregates.
sphalerite crystal form
What is the cleavage of sphalerite?
Dodecahedral {011} perfect but some sphalerite is too fine-grained to show cleavage.
What is the hardness of sphalerite?
3.5 - 4
What is the specific gravity of sphalerite?
3.9 - 4.1
What is the color of sphalerite?
Colorless when pure ZnS and green when nearly so. Commonly yellow, brown to black, darkening
with increase in iron. Also red (ruby zinc).
The most common ore mineral of zinc, is widely distributed. Its occurrence and mode of origin are similar to those of galena, with which it is commonly associated.
Sphalerite
CuFeS2
Chalcopyrite
Tetragonal, commonly appearing tetrahedral on account of the disphenoid {112}. Usually massive.
crystal form of chalcopyrite
What is the hardness of chalcopyrite?
3.5 - 4; brittle
What is the specific gravity of chalcopyrite?
3.1 - 3.4
What is the color of chalcopyrite?
Brass yellow; often tarnished to bronze or irridescent.
Very common in occurrence and is one of the most important ore minerals of copper. In low-temperature hydrothermal vein deposits it is found with galena, sphalerite, and dolomite. In higher-temperature deposits it may occur with pyrrhotite and pentlandite.
Chalcopyrite
Also known as fools gold.
Chalcopyrite
(Fe(1-x)S) x = 0 - 0.2
Pyrrhotite
Hexagonal (for the high-temperature form),but crystals uncommon. Usually massive,granular.
crystal form of pyrrhotite
What is the hardness of pyrrhotite?
4
What is the specific gravity of pyrrhotite?
4.58-4.65
Intensity may be variable. Generally easily attracted to a magnet, but much less magnetic than magnetite.
Magnetism of pyrrhotite
What is the color of pyrrhotite?
Brownish bronze.
Occurs as disseminated grains in basic igneous rocks such as norites. In sulfide ore deposits commonly associated with pentlandite, chalcopyrite, and other sulfides.
pyrrhotite
(Fe,Ni)9S8
Pentlandite
Isometric, but most commonly massive, in granular aggregates with octahedral parting.
Pentlandite