Chalcopyrite

Chalcopyrite is a copper iron sulfide mineral and the most abundant copper ore mineral. It has the chemical formula CuFeS2 and crystallizes in the tetragonal system. It has a brassy to golden yellow color and a hardness of 3.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale.

On exposure to air, chalcopyrite tarnishes to a variety of oxides, hydroxides, and sulfates. It rarely found in association with native copper. Chalcopyrite is a conductor of electricity.

The name chalcopyrite comes from the Greek words chalkos, which means copper, and pyrites‘, which means striking fire. It sometimes historically referred to as “yellow copper”.