Bornite
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Description
Bornite; image credit RRUFF
A common ore of copper iron sulfite. Bornite was named after an Austrian mineralogist, Ignaz von Born. It has been found in Tasmania, Chile, Peru, Mexico, and the U.S. (Montana, Arizona). The naturally brown ore alters on weathering to form Chalcocite and other copper corrosion products which produces an iridescent surface containing purple, blue, and green colors.
Synonyms and Related Terms
Raman spectrum of bornite; credit: RRUFF
peacock ore
Risks
- Tarnishes in air and moisture
Physical and Chemical Properties
- Cleavage = imperfect
- Fracture = conchoidal
- Luster = metallic
| Composition | Cu5FeS4 |
|---|---|
| Mohs Hardness | 3.0 |
| Density | 4.9-5.3 g/ml |
| Molecular Weight | 501.84 |
Resources and Citations
- Web Minerals: Bornite
- Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: "bornite." Accessed 8 Dec. 2004 .
- Mindat.org at http://www.mindat.org/min-727.html (accessed Dec. 8, 2004)
- Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bornite (accessed Dec. 8, 2004)
- Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997