A species of Minerals, Also known as Chalcopyrrhotite, Copper Sulphides, Cupropyrite (of Schneider)
Cubanite is a copper iron sulfide mineral that commonly occurs as a minor alteration mineral in magmatic sulfide deposits. It has the chemical formula CuFe2S3 and when found, it has a bronze to brass-yellow appearance. On the Mohs hardness scale, cubanite falls between 3.5 and 4 and has a orthorhombic crystal system. Cubanite is chemically similar to chalcopyrite, however it is the less common copper iron sulfide mineral due to crystallization requirements. Cubanite occurs in high temperature hydrothermal mineral deposits with pyrrhotite and pentlandite as intergrowths with chalcopyrite. It results from exsolution from chalcopyrite at temperatures below 200 to 210 °C. If cubanite is exposed to temperatures above 210 °C, it will transform into isocubanite. After this transformation, if it begins to cool, it will not revert to cubanite. Upon its transformation to isocubanite it will lose its highly magnetic property due to its change from an orthorhombic to a cubic crystal structure. Cubanite has been identified on chondrites and within dust grain samples and has improved the precision of copper isotope analysis.
Hardness:
3.5
Density:
4.076 g/cm³
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Properties
Characteristics
Cultural
Common Questions
General Info About Cubanite
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Physical Properties of Cubanite
Colors
Brass- to bronze-yellow
Streak
Gray-black
Hardness
3.5 , Soft
Density
4.076 g/cm³, Obviously Heavy Weight
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Chemical Properties of Cubanite
Formula
CuFe2S3
Elements listed
Cu, Fe, S
Characteristics of Cubanite
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Cultural Significance of Cubanite
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Etymology of Cubanite
Cubanite comes from the Spanish word Cubano, or Cuban in English, and the suffix -ite, when naming a mineral. Cubanite was first described in 1843 for its occurrence in the Mayarí-Baracoa Belt, HolguÍn Province, Cuba. It may also be referenced as barracanite in some literature.
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