PEACOCK ORE; BORNITE OR CHALCOPYRITE?

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Wednesday, May 21, 2014

PEACOCK ORE; BORNITE OR CHALCOPYRITE?

Labeled Peacock Ore: Missouri. This specimen is chalcopyrite that has been subjected to an acid bath.Width ~2.5 cm.

Labeled Peacock Ore: Mexico. Width: ~2.0 cm. Chalcopyrite and quartz.

I have always found it interesting that in virtually every rock/mineral show, in most rock shops, and in many curio/souvenir shops, especially in the western U.S, visitors will easily locate specimens of “Peacock Ore” for sale. In most, but not all, instances vendors will simply market the specimens, at a cheap price, to buyers.Upon request most sellers will explain that peacock ore is a copper mineral while others might state the ore is a variety of bornite or perhaps chalcopyrite.Only the most honest proprietors will explain to prospective buyers the history behind peacock ore.It is very inexpensive and the iridescence is quite attractive so just buy it and take it home for the kids.

Chalcopyrite, Sweetwater Mine, Reynolds County, Missouri.Width ~6.5 cm.

Chalcopyrite [CuFeS2] is a copper iron sulfide that is often confused with the iron sulfide, pyrite [FeS2].Both are sort of a brassy yellow color and tarnish upon exposure to oxygen.Chalcopyrite is much softer (3.5-4.0 Mohs) than pyrite (6.0-6.5).Pyrite (Isometric Crystal System) often occurs as cubes but sometimes as octahedrons and pyritohedrons. Chalcopyrite (Tetragonal Crystal System) crystals are often shaped like two wedges back-to-back (dispenoid).Both pyrite and chalcopyrite can have striated crystal faces and also occur as botryoidal masses.They also are found together but there is something about the color, tarnish and luster than distinguishes the two. Chalcopyrite is a very common mineral and the major ore of copper occurring as massive mineral deposits to veins to disseminated crystals in the porphyry copper deposits so important in the U.S.

Massive Bornite and chalcopyrite, Flambeau Mine, Rusk County, Wisconsin. Width ~ 4.4 cm.

Labeled Bornite (massive) and Galena: Montana.Width: ~4.2 cm.

The sulfide bornite [Cu5FeS4] is also an important copper ore (close to 65% by mass), especially in the copper porphyry deposits. It is Orthorhombic but commonly is massive and/or granular in habit.It does not display the brassy color of pyrite or chalcopyrite until tarnished but is a mottled brown/black/purple to copper-red but often is mixed with chalcopyrite. It easily tarnishes upon exposure to air and results in purple/blue iridescence on some areas.In fact, it is often called “peacock ore!” So, what are the specimens sold as iridescence peacock ore seen in the markets?Well, mostly it is chalcopyrite that has been in an acid bath! Sometimes chunks of very iridescent bornite may find their place in sales but essentially peacock ore is altered chalcopyrite: CuFeS2 + 2HCl + 5/4O2-->CuCl2 + FeOOH + 1/2H2O +2S. So, can an “amateur” turn chalcopyrite into peacock ore?I found it interesting that an entire forum on “turning copper pyrite into peacock ore” may be found on www.mindat.com. Statements included:the trick consists of not rinsing the specimens after treatment but to let them dry; the best results I have had is using plain white vinegar, acetic acid, with a little scrap copper, wire or copper pipe, thrown in. I usually let it set outside covered in the sun for a week or until the color has changed. Pull them out and let dry without rinsing. You can rinse after drying if needed; household bleach (sodium hypochlorite) will also do it (in place of acid). One of my future projects is to locate some chalcopyrite, dump it in some acid, and see if I can produce some non-realistic looking peacock ore.Well, at least “fake” peacock ore.Or is it “real” peacock ore? If possible to produce I will stick it on my shelf besides the non-realistic looking (dyed) agate. Who will know? Some people think that the truth can be hidden with a little cover-up and decoration. But as time goes by, what is true is revealed and what is fake fades away. Ismail Haniyeh Posted by Mike at 4:28 PM

12 comments:

UnknownDecember 29, 2015 at 1:16 PM
Nice article!
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UnknownJanuary 22, 2016 at 12:10 AM
That was a great little read. Interestingly enough it's still one of my favourites just because of the colour but it's nice to know how it's done too ;-)
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UnknownJanuary 22, 2016 at 12:11 AM
That was a great little read. Interestingly enough it's still one of my favourites just because of the colour but it's nice to know how it's done too ;-)
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AnonymousJune 12, 2016 at 9:42 AM
Bleach and vinegar aren't safe to mix though as they will create a toxic chlorine gas. And vinegar is just acetic acid in water. So why would mixing vinegar and acetic acid work? I don't understand.
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UnknownSeptember 15, 2016 at 4:36 PM
I soaked my "plain Jane" Chalcopyrite in white vinegar for a week, let it dry and looked at it in good light. I could see some color coming through so, next I soaked it in Muriatic acid (dilute Hydrochloric acid) and 50%water, let it steep while I was at work, came home, to notice the water was an orange-ish yellow. When I got closer to the container I noticed that one the rocks was producing bubbles, obviously reacting to the sulfides in the mineral. I let them steep overnight, and upon awaking, I saw the acid bath was even more opaque than in the previous evening. I removed both, and as of this writing letting them dry out. I will update this, when I get home to see my result.
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1. paperclipOctober 18, 2016 at 7:12 PM
  What did the rocks look like after the final bath? Iridescent and beautiful?
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2. AnonymousAugust 7, 2017 at 3:54 PM
  The world will never know!!!! :O
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paperclipOctober 18, 2016 at 7:11 PM
Great article! I'll have to play around with my chalcopyrite. I was at a rock store the other day and they were selling "peacock ore" for $20-25. Very expensive for their small size (small enough to fit on my palm).
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d3spiMDecember 14, 2016 at 5:22 AM
I have found in a very old book of traditional greek medicine the name taitis a a peacock stone. By searching it came out to be chalkopyrite or pyrite with chrysokole. Does anyone has more information about the real peackok stone ?
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UnknownAugust 7, 2017 at 3:52 PM
This comment has been removed by the author.
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AnonymousFebruary 14, 2019 at 8:28 AM
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
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AnonymousJune 8, 2022 at 2:33 PM
I bought a few arrow heads at a pawn shop and seen a box of mixed stones. I found one wh what looks like pyrite wh either bornite or peacock ore and was wandering if anyone could help me identify which it is.
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Tag » How To Tell If Peacock Ore Is Real

PEACOCK ORE; BORNITE OR CHALCOPYRITE?

Wednesday, May 21, 2014