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Research Elements

Chalcopyrite

Compound · CuFeS2

Elements

Copper, Iron, Sulfur

Crystal structure

One unit cell, the smallest block that repeats in every direction to build the whole crystal. Atoms on its faces, edges and corners are shared with the neighboring cells. Farther atoms are drawn fainter.
Cell: a = b = 5.289 Å, c = 10.423 Å, all angles 90°
Space group: I -4 2 d

Atom positions from the Crystallography Open Database entry 9007572 (Hall, S. R.; Stewart, J. M., 1973).

Where it's found

The most common copper mineral. Most of it comes from porphyry copper deposits such as Escondida and Chuquicamata in Chile, Bingham Canyon in Utah and Grasberg in Indonesia. It also occurs in massive sulfide deposits on old sea floors and in skarns.

How it's mined

Mostly open pit, with some underground block caving. The ore, often under 1% copper, is crushed and ground fine, and froth flotation lifts the chalcopyrite into a concentrate of 25 to 30% copper. Smelting turns the concentrate into matte and then blister copper, which is refined by electrolysis.