Chalcopyrite is the most important copper ore mineral on Earth and the most common copper sulfide. Fresh crystals show brassy-yellow metallic faces; weathered surfaces develop iridescent purple-blue-gold tarnish often called “peacock ore.” It crystallizes in the tetragonal system with disphenoidal pseudo-tetrahedral forms.
Key Facts
- Mohs hardness 3.5–4.
- Brass-yellow when fresh; tarnishes to vivid iridescent colors.
- Distinguishable from pyrite by lower hardness and greenish-black streak.
- Major source of copper worldwide; minor source of gold and silver.
Notable Chinese Localities
The Dexing Copper Mine (Jiangxi) and Daye District (Hubei) produce iridescent crystals as porphyry-Cu byproducts. Tongling (Anhui) and Yaogangxian (Hunan) host smaller but high-quality crystals.
Found at these Localities
- Oumjrane Mining Area (奥姆贾兰矿区)
- Tri-State Mining District (Joplin) (三州矿区(乔普林))
- Erzgebirge / Krušné Hory (埃尔茨山脉/克鲁什内山(德捷边境矿带))
- Tunaberg (图纳贝里钴矿(瑞典))
- Cornwall Mining District (康沃尔矿区)
- Heqing Cu-Ag-Pb-Zn District (鹤庆铜银铅锌矿区)
- Yangla Copper Mine (羊拉铜矿)
- Lanping Pb-Zn-Cu Field (兰坪铅锌铜矿田)
- Tongling Mining District (铜陵矿区)
- Dexing Mine (德兴铜矿)
- Daye District (大冶)
- Yaogangxian Mine (瑶岗仙矿)
- Hubei (湖北)
- Jiangxi (江西)
- Hunan (湖南)
Available Products of Chalcopyrite
7 available specimens
Chalcopyrite – Iridescent Tarnish – Dexing City, Jiangxi, China
Chalcopyrite Spherical Mass on Quartz, Jiangxi
Chalcopyrite and Iron Ore Specimen Set – Yaogangxian
Chalcopyrite and Calcite Cluster – Iridescent Rainbow
Chalcopyrite Crystal, Iridescent, Peru
Chalcopyrite and Pyrite Cluster, Hunan
Chalcopyrite on Quartz Matrix Specimen
