Massive bornite and chalcopyrite

Specimen Summary

Bornite is an important copper ore mineral found in many different types of copper deposit. It is also known as peacock ore because of its iridescent purple-blue-green tarnish. Fresh bornite, however, is copper red. Bornite commonly occurs with other copper sulphide minerals such as chalcocite and weathers, or “oxidizes”, to malachite.

Chalcopyrite is the most common ore mineral for copper and is a sulphide of iron and copper. Chalco comes from the Greek word chalko, meaning copper. Chalcopyrite is commonly found in sulphide deposits in most ore-forming environments. Chalcopyrite is an important copper ore mineral found in many different types of copper deposit. A characteristic deep brass yellow colour and iridescent green-to-purple weathering surfaces distinguish chalcopyrite from gold and sulphides such as pyrite. It is sometimes mistaken for Gold because of its bright yellow colour; however, it is harder, more common, and chalcopyrite commonly occurs with other copper sulphide minerals such as bornite and weathers to malachite and azurite.

Specimen Data

 

The information listed below relates to the current holding location or collection that the sample is from, and whether the item is viewable at that location or is part of a private collection. Coordinates are given as guides, and we remind you that collecting specimens from these locations is not allowed. Caution is advised visiting such sites and Below BC assumes no responsibility for any injuries or trespassing charges that may occur as a result of the viewer entering these sites.

Collection Details

Original Collection:

Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre (RM)

Sub Collection:

-

Collection ID:

RM_19

Virtual Museum ID:

19-RM19

Accessibility:

Date Added to VM:

2019-06-09

Location Information

Sample Origin:

WSW of Princeton, BC

Specific Site:

Newton Mines

UTM Easting:

659325

UTM Northing:

5478662

Datum:

10 (NAD 83)

Coordinate Accuracy:

Specimen Details

VM Category:

Mineral

Primary Features:

Massive bornite and chalcopyrite

Primary Mineral Formula:

Cu5FeS4 · CuFeS2

Primary Category:

sulphide

Secondary Features:

Advanced Geological Information

 

The following section provides geological data relating to the specimen or the site it was collected from, when available. Information has been obtained from various sources including private and government datasets but may not be up to date. Any geological time periods or ages listed often relate to the primary geology of the area, and may not be the actual date of an event such as mineral formation.

Geological Formation:

Tulameen Ultramafic Complex

Geological Period:

Early Jurassic

Stratigraphic Age:

174.1 to 201.3 Million Years Ago

Geological Belt:

Intermontane

Geological Terrane:

Quesnel

Minfile ID:

092HSE159

Minfile Link:

https://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=092HSE159

Site Details:

A greenstone dyke, approximately 18 metres wide, possibly related to the Early Jurassic Tulameen Ultramafic Complex, is mineralized with copper sulphide (chalcopyrite?) veins over about 0.3 metre. A sample of the sulphide assayed 8.6 grams of platinum per tonne (Geological Survey of Canada Economic Geology Report No. 13, page 93).

Additional Images