chalcopyrite

American  

[kal-kuh-pahy-rahyt] / ˌkæl kəˈpaɪ raɪt /

noun

1. a very common mineral, copper iron sulfide, CuFeS 2 , occurring in brass-yellow crystals or masses: the most important ore of copper; copper pyrites.

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chalcopyrite British  

/ ˌkælkəˈpaɪraɪt, -ˈpaɪə- /

noun

1. Also called: copper pyrites.  a widely distributed yellow mineral consisting of a sulphide of copper and iron in tetragonal crystalline form: the principal ore of copper. Formula: CuFeS 2

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chalcopyrite Scientific  

/ kăl′kə-pī′rīt′ /

1. A brassy yellow, metallic, tetragonal mineral, usually occurring as shapeless masses of grains. Chalcopyrite is found in igneous rocks and copper-rich shales, and it is an important ore of copper. Because of its shiny look and often yellow color, it is sometimes mistaken for gold, and for this reason it is also called fool's gold. Chemical formula: CuFeS ₂ .

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Etymology

Origin of chalcopyrite

First recorded in 1825–35; chalco- + pyrite

Compare meaning

How does chalcopyrite compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• chalcopyrite vs. pyrite

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

chalcopyrite

Past open pit production at this mine was dominated by copper and gold from chalcopyrite and bornite.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2017

In CIGSSe devices, the indium to gallium ratio is used to tailor the bandgap, and the materials should be copper-deficient relative to the ideal chalcopyrite stoichiometry to avoid detrimental electrical shunting.

From Nature ● Aug. 15, 2012

This defective chalcopyrite layer leads to more pronounced rollover and crossover signatures in J–V curves.

From Nature ● Aug. 15, 2012

For example, all the specimens of bornite and pyrrhotite examined yielded sulphuretted hydrogen with tartaric, citric, and oxalic acids, but chalcopyrite and pyrite do not.

From The Galaxy, April, 1877 Vol. XXIII.—April, 1877.—No. 4. by Various

A set of specimens was exhibited by the Ellenville Zinc Company, consisting of strikingly beautiful crystalline masses of quartz galina, sphalerite and chalcopyrite and specimens of the rare mineral, brookite.

From New York at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis 1904 Report of the New York State Commission by DeLancey M. Ellis