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Galena, Chalcopyrite, Pyrite, Sphalerite, Molybdenite, Arsenopyrite,








Galena: Lead Sulphide 
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Galena (PbS)



Crystals are lead/grey in color with a metallic lustre. They exhibit a cubic habit, a perfect cubic
 
cleavage and a hardness of 2.5. Galena is a typical hydrothermal mineral of medium temperature deposits 
where it is often associated with sphalerite, quartz and flourite. It can also be found in sedimentary 
and metamorphic rocks through the circulation of water and the replacement of pre-exisiting rocks. World 
class deposits can be found in the USA (Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas), Australia (Broken Hill), Mexico 
and West Germany.
      
      
Uses: Galena is the main ore of lead.



 












Chalcopyrite: Copper Iron Sulphide 
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Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2)
  


Crystals are not common with a massive or compact habit usual. Colour is 
a brassy yellow with a 
 metallic lustre. Hardness is between 3.5 and 4 
which is softer than pyrite (a diagnostic feature 
 between the two). 
Chalcopyrite is common in high-medium temperature hydrothermal veins 
with pyrrhotite, pyrite and sphalerite. It is also found in mafic 
volcanics which have undergone some metamorphism (porphyry coppers) 
and contact metamorphism (skarns). World class deposits 
 found in the USA 
(Arizona, Bingham), Canada (Sudbury) and Chile.



Uses: One of the most important ores of copper.












Pyrite: Iron Sulphide 
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Pyrite (FeS2)
  


Pyrite crystals are generally a bronze yellow to brass yellow in colour with a metallic lustre.

Crystals are cubic often with striations parallel to the cube edges but can also be octahedrals, pyritohedras 
and massive in form. Cleavage is indistinct and hardness ranges from 6-6.5. Common in medium-low temperature 
hydrothermal veins either on its own or with gold, sphaleite or galena. Also found in sedimentary rocks, especially 
black shales where it often replaces fossils. World class deposits in Spain, USA (Arizona, Colorado), Italy and Norway.
veins



Uses: Usually mined because of the other minerals associated with it but pyrite is a major source
 of sulphur and is used in the production of sulphuric acid .












Sphalerite: Zinc Sulphide 
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Sphalerite (ZnS)
  


Sphalerite varies in colour from reddish brown to black depending on impurities. It can also be 
 yellow, green or colourless. Lustre can be resinous or adamantine. Crystals are tetrahedral or dodecahedral often with rounded edges but it can also be found in massive and botryoidal forms. Cleavage is perfect parallel to the dodecahedran and hardness ranges from 3.5-4.
Sphalerite
 occurs in hydrothermal veins associated with galena, chalcopyrite and flourite and low-high 
 temperature replacement deposits, such as skarns. World class deposits in the former Yugoslavia (Tepca), Hungary (Kapnik), Italy and USA.



Uses: Main ore of zinc which is used in the manufacture of brass, alloys and sheet zinc. Can also produce cadmium and indium as by-products.











Molybdenite: Molybdenum Sulphide 
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Molybdenite (MoS2)
  


Molybdenite is a bluish grey in colour with a metallic lustre. Individual crystals are often tabular
 with a hexagonal outline, forming bladed, foliated or scaly masses. Molybdenite is very soft with a 
 hardness of 1-1.5 and exhibits a prefect parallel cleavage. Molybdenite is generally found in 
 granites, pegmatites and sometimes diorites associated with cassiterite, scheelite and flourite. It is
also associated with contact metamorphic deposits i.e skarns. World class deposits have been
 found in USA (Colorado, Ogden mine New Jersey), Australia, Italy and Norway.



Uses: Main ore of molybdenum which is used in many alloys.











Arsenopyrite: Iron Arsenic Sulphide 
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Arsenopyrite (FeAsS)
  


Arsenopyrite is usually silvery-white to steel grey in colour with a metallic lustre. Crystals can be elongated, striated or prismatic but can also from massive or columnar aggregates. Arsenopyrite has a hardness of between 5.5-6 and a good cleavage. Arsenopyrite occurs in sulphide deposits, high-temperature hydrothermal veins and the pegmatitic environment, associated with either tin, gold and silver. It also occurs in limestones and dolomites as disseminations. World class depoists have been found in Sweden (Boliden), England (Cornwall), Canada (Deloro) and USA (Colorado).



Uses: The principal ore of arsenic with tin, gold and silver as by-products.






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