Mineral 1.0Test your knowledge of specific minerals

M
E
N
U
« Home | Browse Minerals | QuizzesMinerals by letter: All | K | G | O | A | H | T | P | C | Q | N | Z | S | E | W | M | B | F | D | L
Minerals by class: Silicates | Halides | Carbonates | Sulfates | Oxides | Phosphates | Hydroxides | Native elements | Sulfides
Silicate Subclasses: Nesosilicates | Pyroxenes | Amphiboles | Frameworks | Sorosilicates | Cyclosilicates | Phyllosilicates
  

« Back to mineral listing

C
H
A
L
C
O
C
I
T
E

Click for expanded view




ChalcociteCu2S

Class: Sulfide
Hardness: 2.5 - 3
Density: 5.5 - 5.8
Streak: Blackish lead-gray
Lustre: Dull metallic
Habit: Chunky fracture, massive habit.
Colours: Blackish lead-gray

  Crystal System: Monoclinic
Cleavage: Indistinct
Fracture: Conchoidal
Magnetism: None
Reaction with HCl: None

Identification in hand sample:
Black colour with sooty appearance on weathered surfaces and sectile character are distinctive. Bronze-yellow on fresh surfaces.

Associations:
Found in the supergene-enriched zone of copper-bearing hydrothermal sulfide deposits.

Industrial / ecomonic uses:
Mined as a source of copper.

Comments:
A substantial amount of material identified as chalcocite may actually be djurleite (Cu31S16), as they are very commonly intergrown.

  

Inaccurate data? Better photos? .