Bornite

Formula	Cu5FeS4
Color	Mostly bluish-green with areas of gold and purple
Luster	Bright metallic
Hardness	3
Transparency	Opaque
Streak	A dark gray, close to black
Cleavage	Does not cleave easily and does so in octahedral form
Fracture	Conchoidal
Locality	Near copper mines in western United States, England, Germany, Africa, and South America

Bornite is a strange mineral due to its very colorful nature. Its chemical formula is Cu5FeS4, and it is a copper sulfide that changes into interesting colors when it is exposed to the atmosphere. These colors are the result of oxidization, much like how pure copper tarnishes when exposed to the air for some period of time.

Bornite is traditionally called "Peacock Ore", which is clearly a reference to its bright blue-green colors. However, peacock ore is actually a rock composed of an assortment of copper sulfides with a larger variety of colors. The colors of the mineral can range from bright purple and gold to bright green. This rock is popular for collections due to its beauty, but it is also mined as a source of copper for industrial purposes.

Due to its high concentration of copper, bornite is typically found near veins of copper. As a result, it is primarily found near copper mines in areas in Montana, Colorado, and Arizona. Bornite can be purchased online or it is frequently sold in tourist shops across the United States.

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This article was written by Jonathan Dunder All Rights Reserved by Jonathan Dunder. Do not reproduce without permission. View My Profile Contact Me @ jsdratm@hotmail.com

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