Mineralpedia Details for Bornite
Bornite
Name after Austria mineralogist Ignaz Elder von Born. Bornite is a common mineral that is widespread and can be found in thousands of localities worldwide, some of which, for fine crystals, include in the United States, England, Zimbabwe, Austria, Kazakhstan, Morocco, the United States, South Africa, and Australia. It occurs with and in mafic igneous rocks, contact metamorphic skarn deposits, pegmatites, mid- to high-temperature hydrothermal deposits, and in sedimentary cupriferous shale. Bornite is only stable below around 200 degrees Celsius. Associated minerals include chalcopyrite, pyrite, copper and iron sulfides, garnets, calcite, wollastonite, and quartz.
Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/bornite.pdf
- Formula
- Cu5FeS4
- Crystal System
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal Habit
- Massive - Granular, Reniform, Granular
- Cleavage
- Imperfect, None, None
- Luster
- Metallic
- Color
- copper red, bronze brown, purple
- Streak
- grayish black
- Class
- Orthorhombic - Dipyramidal
- Fracture
- Conchoidal
- Hardness
- 3
- WebMineral
- View Bornite
- Mindat
- View Bornite
Bornite from Dzhezkazgan mine, Karagandy, Kazakhstan
Well formed nicely iridescent crystals to 3mm.
Bornite from Eagle Picher mine, Shullsburg, Lafayette Co., Wisconsin, United States
Large plate of bluish to purple iridescent Bornite with crystals to 6mm.
Bornite from Bisbee, Cochise Co., Arizona, United States
Large chunk rich in Bornite and other sulfides.
Bornite from Franklin, Sussex Co., New Jersey, United States
A large heavy mass of very coarse iridescent Bornite associated with a bit of green Willemite and Franklinite.
Bornite from Butte dist., Silver Bow Co., Montana, United States
A beautiful specimen of almost pure bluish, homogenous and fine grained mass with dark grey Chalcocite and a band of 1-4mm crystals of pyrite and chalcopyrite. Cut smooth on one side to show mineralization. 1 lb 8 oz.
Bornite generally contains about 63% copper and is an important ore of copper. It is a supergene enrichment product of chalcopyrite. Bornite was a significant ore at Butte.
Bornite from Mt. Con mine, Butte dist., Silver Bow Co., Montana, United States
Large iridescent mass of solid Bornite with minor Chalcopyrite. May cost a little extra to ship.
Bornite from Superior, Pinal Co., Arizona, United States
Blue, iridescent crystalline mass of this important ore of copper.
Bornite from San Martín mine, Sombrerete, Zacatecas, Mexico
Blue iridescent mass of Bornite with leaf Silver shooting up the center.
Bornite from Cooney mine, Catron Co., New Mexico, United States
Rich blue to purple to silvery brassy coarse Bornite. An ore of Copper.
Bornite from Grasberg mine, Carstensz Mts, New Guinea, Papua, Indonesia
Highly iridescent example of this rich copper ore specimen. The locality is the largest producing gold mine in the world and third largest copper mine.
Bornite from Bristol, Hartford Co., Connecticut, United States
Massive bluish grey Bornite veins with Quartz.
Bornite from Wheal Phoenix, Linkinhorne, Liskeard dist., Cornwall, England
This is a large chunk of ore with mostly Bornite and Chalcopyrite. The surface has a fascinating patina reflecting its composition of iron and copper. But it also shows a bronze color which may be Stannite, but maybe it is just oxidized Chalcopyrite. I would love to crack this specimen in half to reveal a fresh surface. But I can't do that as it is large and more impressive as a whole.
