How to distinguish chalcopyrite and pyrite with naked eyes?
PyriteA sulfide mineral of the equiaxed family of pyrite. It is often mistaken for gold because of its pale brass color and bright metallic luster. Hence, it is also called "fool's gold"Chemical composition FeS2,Hardness 6-6.5,Specific gravity 4.9-5.2Crystal system: belongs to equiaxed system
The composition is usually containing cobalt, nickel and selenium, with NaCl type crystal structure. Often have a complete crystal shape, a cube, eight face body, five horns and twelve surface body and poly shape. In parallel with the crystal edge stripes cube crystal on the surface of each crystal face stripes perpendicular to each other. A dense collection of massive and granular or nodular. Yellow (Tong Huang) green and black color, streak, strong metallic luster, opaque, no cleavage, uneven fracture, the surface conditions easily weathered limonite.Pyrite is the most widely distributed sulfide mineral. It can occur in all kinds of rocks. Pyrite is the main raw material for extracting sulfur and making sulphuric acidchalcopyrite
Chalcopyrite is one of the main minerals for refining copper. It is one of the most common sulfides and the most common copper minerals after pyriteThe chemical composition is CuFeS2,Crystal system tetragonal systemHardness 3~4,Specific gravity 4.4.3Chalcopyrite single crystal is rare, aggregation often irregular granular or massive brass. Often, tarnish film blue, purple, brown mottled surface, green and black streaks, metallic luster. Jagged shaped or shell shaped, no cleavage, 7. Chalcopyrite is often mistaken for yellow iron ore and natural gold, but with its more yellow color and low hardness of pyrite and the phase difference between the green and black streaks, crisp and soluble in nitric acid and natural difference. In metallographic surface weathering, chalcopyrite is usually green malachite and azurite blue.
