| Physical Properties of Bornite | |
|---|---|
| Chemical Classification | Sulfide |
| Chemical Composition | Copper iron sulfide, Cu5FeS4 |
| Crystal System | Orthorhombic |
| Uses | Primarily an ore of copper. |
What is bornite?
What is Bornite? Bornite is a copper iron sulfide mineral with a chemical composition of Cu 5 FeS 4. It occurs in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. Minable concentrations of bornite occur in hydrothermal veins, contact metamorphic zones, and in the enriched zone of many sulfide mineral deposits.
What can you do with a bornite specimen?
Most bornite specimens are used for display in homes, offices, or other locations as an eye catching piece. Some bornite will be used as cut out cabochons for jewelry such as necklaces…
What minerals can be found in bornite?
Chalcopyrite, marcasite, and pyrite are other sulfide minerals commonly associated with bornite. Small amounts of bornite are also found disseminated through mafic igneous rocks and carbonaceous shales. Bornite crystals with an iridescent tarnish up to about 1.5 centimeters across on calcite from the Karagandy Province, Kazakhstan.
Why does bornite have such a colorful tarnish?
The colorful iridescent tarnish of bornite and its low hardness are very helpful for separating bornite from other minerals with a submetallic to metallic luster. Few of them have a similar tarnish, and most of them are much harder.
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Where is bornite most commonly found?
bornite, a copper-ore mineral, copper and iron sulfide (Cu5FeS4). Typical occurrences are found in Mount Lyell, Tasmania; Chile; Peru; and Butte, Mont., U.S. Bornite, one of the common copper minerals, forms isometric crystals but is seldom found in these forms.
What are the properties of bornite?
Physical Properties of BorniteColorCopper-red to pinchbeck-brown, quickly tarnishing to an iridescent purplish surface.Diagnostic PropertiesColor, tarnish, lower hardness than similar minerals. Almost always found in massive occurrences and very rarely as tiny crystals.Crystal SystemOrthorhombicTenacityBrittle8 more rows
Is bornite mined?
Bornite is often mined as an ore of copper due its chemical composition of copper iron sulfide.
Is bornite rare or common?
view gemstone encyclopedia Bornite is too soft and brittle for anything but a collector curiosity, although cabochons are quite attractive when they tarnish. The material is not rare, so cabochons have no great value beyond the effort of cutting.
Does bornite contain gold?
The range of gold concentrations in bornite and chalcopyrite (or iss) decreases with decreasing temperature from 1,280 to 8,200 ppm Au in bornite and 100 to 125 ppm Au in iss at 600°C, to 235 to 364 ppm Au in bornite and 5 to 16 ppm Au in chalcopyrite (or iss) at 500°C, and to 13 to 80 ppm Au in bornite and 2 to 4 ppm ...
Does peacock ore have gold in it?
A freshly broken surface of bornite is brownish-gold which after a few days starts to turn purple and after a few weeks to blue. Fake peacock ore is chalcopyrite which when you break it is a bright yellowish gold. The fake stuff will not tarnish but stay yellow-gold unless it is chemically treated.
Is bornite a rock or mineral?
Bornite, also known as peacock ore, is a sulfide mineral with chemical composition Cu5FeS4 that crystallizes in the orthorhombic system (pseudo-cubic).
Is Peacock a heavy ore?
Chalcopyrite (Peacock Ore), Approximately 2"-2.5" Length, 3-6 oz. Weight, Single Piece. Chalcopyrite is a copper-iron sulfide, with similarities to pyrite. When exposed to acidic conditions, the metals in the chalcopyrite undergo oxidation, turning brilliant shades of blue, green, and purple.
What kind of rock is peacock ore?
Peacock ore is a pet name, referring to rocks made of the minerals bornite and chalcopyrite. The colors of peacock ore are actually tarnish upon the ore's surface. There are many unique properties that define this beautifully dirty rock. The official chemical formula of bornite is Cu5FeS4 and chalcopyrite is CuFeS2.
Can bornite be in water?
Its a form of acid treated Calcopyrite, although occasionally mislabeled as Bornite, and a few other stones. No matter what the base mineral is, I would not soak it in water as it has a Mohs hardness of 3-3.5 (Bornite) or 3.5-4 (Calcoprite) which is quite soft, and may dissolve over time.
Where is peacock ore mined?
It occurs globally in copper ores with significant crystal locations in Butte, Montana, and U.S. Bristol, Connecticut. It is also gathered in Cornwall, England from the Carn Brea mine, Illogan, and elsewhere.
What are the healing properties of peacock ore?
Peacock Ore is said to be one of the most powerful stones when used in conjunction with chakra healing as it's energy is such that when placed on one chakra it effects all of the others. In physical healing it is used to stimulate adrenaline and encourage the production of calcium within the body.
Where is bornite found?
Bornite is an important copper ore mineral and occurs widely in porphyry copper deposits along with the more common chalcopyrite. Chalcopyrite and bornite are both typically replaced by chalcocite and covellite in the supergene enrichment zone of copper deposits. Bornite is also found as disseminations in mafic igneous rocks, in contact metamorphic skarn deposits, in pegmatites and in sedimentary cupriferous shales. It is important as an ore for its copper content of about 63 percent by mass.
What is the chemical composition of bornite?
Bornite. Bornite, also known as peacock ore, is a sulfide mineral with chemical composition Cu 5 Fe S 4 that crystallizes in the orthorhombic system (pseudo-cubic).
What is the color of bornite?
Bornite has a brown to copper-red color on fresh surfaces that tarnishes to various iridescent shades of blue to purple in places. Its striking iridescence gives it the nickname peacock copper or peacock ore .
Where can I find hematite?
Large crystals are found from the Frossnitz Alps, eastern Tirol, Austria; the Mangula mine, Lomagundi district, Zimbabwe; from the N'ouva mine, Talate, Morocco, the West Coast of Tasmania and in Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan. There are also traces of it found amongst the hematite in the Pilbara region of Western Australia .
Where can I find hematite crystals?
Large crystals are found from the Frossnitz Alps, eastern Tirol, Austria; the Mangula mine, Lomagundi district, Zimbabwe; from the N'ouva mine, Talate, Morocco, the West Coast of Tasmania and in Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan . There are also traces of it found amongst the hematite in the Pilbara region of Western Australia .
What is bornite in rock?
What is Bornite? Bornite is a copper iron sulfide mineral with a chemical composition of Cu 5 FeS 4. It occurs in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. Minable concentrations of bornite occur in hydrothermal veins, contact metamorphic zones, and in the enriched zone of many sulfide mineral deposits.
What are the minerals that are associated with Bornite?
Chalcopyrite, marcasite, and pyrite are other sulfide minerals commonly associated with bornite. Small amounts of bornite are also found disseminated through mafic igneous rocks and carbonaceous shales.
What are the physical properties of bornite?
Physical Properties of Bornite. Reddish brown or brownish red on a fresh surface. Iridescent purple, blue, and black on a tarnished surface. Color, tarnish, lower hardness than similar minerals. Almost always found in massive occurrences and very rarely as tiny crystals. Primarily an ore of copper.
What is the color of bornite?
Bornite is easily recognized because it tarnishes to iridescent shades of blue, purple, red, green and yellow. It is commonly called "peacock ore" or "purple copper ore" after these iridescent colors. Upon surface exposure, bornite will weather to chalcocite or other copper minerals.
Is bornite hard or soft?
The colorful iridescent tarnish of bornite and its low hardness are very helpful for separating bornite from other minerals with a submetallic to metallic luster. Few of them have a similar tarnish, and most of them are much harder.
What is bornite?
The Mineral bornite. Bornite is an ore mineral of copper, and is known for its iridescent tarnish . " Peacock Ore ", which is sold to amateur mineral collectors and tourists, is often labeled as a variety of Bornite.
Where is bornite found?
Large quantities of Bornite, mostly in massive form, have been extracted from the Arizona copper mines, particularly the Magma mine in Superior, Pinal Co .; and the Copper Queen Mine in Bisbee, Cochise Co. Rare crystals have come from Butte, Silver Bow Co., Montana, where much massive material is also found.
Where do Bornite crystals come from?
Good crystals also come from Shaba, Congo (Zaire); and from the Mangula Mine in Mhangura, Zimbabwe. The province of Cornwall, England has produced many Bornite specimens, including some crystallized examples (especially in the Carn Brea Mine). Nice crystals as well as massive form come from San Martin, Zacatecas, Mexico.
Is bornite an isometric crystal?
and Aggregates. Bornite forms as isometric crystals at high temperatures, but when it cools down to normal temperatures it crystallizes in the orthorhombic system. However, the crystals retain their original isometric crystals. Crystals are rare, and are in cubic or dodecahedral form. Octahedral shaped crystals are extremely rare.
Is bornite a primary or secondary mineral?
Tarnish es to an iridescent purple, blue, and red. Tarnish, low hardness, and association with copper ore s. In copper ore vein s, both as a primary and secondary mineral.
Overview
Bornite, also known as peacock ore, is a sulfide mineral with chemical composition Cu5FeS4 that crystallizes in the orthorhombic system (pseudo-cubic).
Appearance
Bornite has a brown to copper-red color on fresh surfaces that tarnishes to various iridescent shades of blue to purple in places. Its striking iridescence gives it the nickname peacock copper or peacock ore.
Mineralogy
Bornite is an important copper ore mineral and occurs widely in porphyry copper deposits along with the more common chalcopyrite. Chalcopyrite and bornite are both typically replaced by chalcocite and covellite in the supergene enrichment zone of copper deposits. Bornite is also found as disseminations in mafic igneous rocks, in contact metamorphic skarn deposits, in pegmatites and in sedi…
Occurrence
It occurs globally in copper ores with notable crystal localities in Butte, Montana and at Bristol, Connecticut in the U.S. It is also collected from the Carn Brea mine, Illogan, and elsewhere in Cornwall, England. Large crystals are found from the Frossnitz Alps, eastern Tirol, Austria; the Mangula mine, Lomagundi district, Zimbabwe; from the N'ouva mine, Talate, Morocco, the West Coast of Tasmani…
History and etymology
It was first described in 1725 for an occurrence in the Krušné Horny Mountains (Erzgebirge), Karlovy Vary Region, Bohemia in what is now the Czech Republic. It was named in 1845 for Austrian mineralogist Ignaz von Born (born as Born Ignác into a Hungarian family) (1742–1791).
See also
• Cuprite
• Tennantite
• Tetrahedrite
• List of minerals named after people