Chalcopyrite

Formula: CuFeS2

Reflected/transmitted colour: opaque, polished section brassy yellow, tarnishes after some time. Some Se-contents turn colour brown

Pleochroism:

Optical isotropy/anisotropy: polished section usually weakly but distinct anisotropic, gray-blue and greenish yellow; if more Fe than usual is present than  the anisotropy might be stronger

Optical sign:

Refractive indices:

Birefringence δ/bireflectance: polished section weak, occasionally observable

2V angle:

Dispersion:

Optical orientation:

Optical axial plane:

Gray long-prismatic crystal of oulankaite with light grayish telargpalite and pale yellowish-white rims of tulameenite in massive chalcopyrite. Polished section (from microprobe analysis) in reflected light.
Origin: Lukkulaisvaara ultrabasic Massif, Olanga (Oulanka) River, Oulanka plutonic complex, Karelia Republic, Northern Region, Russia
Picture size: 0.12 mm
Owner: Thomas Witzke

White moncheite with chalcopyrite (orange, blue and violet tarnishing colours) in silicate matrix. Polished section (from microprobe analysis) in reflected light.
Origin: Lukkulaisvaara ultrabasic Massif, Olanga (Oulanka) River, Oulanka plutonic complex, Karelia Republic, Northern Region, Russia
Picture size: 0.11 mm
Owner: Thomas Witzke
 

Photo courtesy of: 

Thomas Witzke

Institut für Mineralogie und Lagerstättenlehre
Aachen, Germany

 

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