What is the Difference Between Pyrite and Chalcopyrite?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Pyrite and chalcopyrite are both sulfide minerals, but they have different chemical compositions, appearances, and physical properties. Here are the main differences between the two:
- Chemical Composition: Pyrite is an iron sulfide mineral with the chemical formula FeS2, while chalcopyrite is a copper iron sulfide mineral with the chemical formula CuFeS2.
- Appearance: Pyrite has a pale brass yellowish color with a metallic luster, while chalcopyrite is brassy to golden yellowish in color. Chalcopyrite often displays an iridescent tarnish, which pyrite does not.
- Hardness: Pyrite is a harder mineral than chalcopyrite. It has a Mohs hardness of 6 to 6.5, while chalcopyrite has a hardness of 3.5 to 4.
- Crystal Habits: Pyrite typically occurs in well-crystallized shapes of octahedrons and pyritohedrons (dodecahedral), while chalcopyrite is more commonly found as groups of small, distorted crystals in globular or botryoidal shapes.
- Oxidization: Pyrite oxidizes slowly in a moist environment, discharging sulfuric acid, while chalcopyrite oxidizes more rapidly, producing bright colors.
To summarize, pyrite is a harder mineral with a pale brass yellow color, while chalcopyrite is softer, with a brassy to golden yellow color and an iridescent tarnish. Pyrite has octahedral or pyritohedral crystal shapes, whereas chalcopyrite has distorted crystals in globular or botryoidal shapes.
Comparative Table: Pyrite vs Chalcopyrite
Here is a table comparing the differences between pyrite and chalcopyrite:
Property | Pyrite | Chalcopyrite |
---|---|---|
Chemical Composition | FeS2 (iron sulfide) | CuFeS2 (copper iron sulfide) |
Color | Pale brass yellowish with a metallic luster | Brassy to golden yellowish in color |
Crystal System | Cubic | No specific crystal system mentioned |
Hardness | 6-6.5 | 3.5-4 |
Streak | Brownish-black or greenish-black | Dull gray to greenish color when weathered |
Cleavage/Fracture | Indistinct cleavage, conchoidal or very uneven fracture | Not mentioned |
Luster | Metallic | Metallic |
Industrial Applications | Used in the manufacture of sulfuric acid, as a source of sulfur | Considered the most important copper ore, often used in the production of copper |
Pyrite and chalcopyrite are both sulfide minerals, but they have different chemical compositions and physical properties. While pyrite contains iron sulfide (FeS2), chalcopyrite is a copper iron sulfide mineral with the chemical formula CuFeS2. Pyrite has a pale brass yellowish color with a metallic luster, while chalcopyrite is brassy to golden yellowish in color. Pyrite has a cubic crystal system and is relatively harder compared to chalcopyrite, which has a hardness of 3.5-4.
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