What is tetrahedrite used for?
Uses: electric wiring and silver-based inks create electrical pathways in electronics; jewelry, mirrors, coins, in photovoltaic cells to transform sunlight into electricity.
What is the hardness of tetrahedrite?
3.5 to 4
Tetrahedrite gets its name from the distinctive tetrahedron shaped cubic crystals. The mineral usually occurs in massive form, it is a steel gray to black metallic mineral with Mohs hardness of 3.5 to 4 and specific gravity of 4.6 to 5.2.
Where is tetrahedrite from?
It is found in important quantities in Switzerland, Germany, Romania, the Czech Republic, France, Peru, and Chile, and both minerals occur in large amounts in Colorado, Idaho, and other localities in the western United States.
Where is chalcocite found?
Occurrence. Chalcocite is sometimes found as a primary vein mineral in hydrothermal veins. However, most chalcocite occurs in the supergene enriched environment below the oxidation zone of copper deposits as a result of the leaching of copper from the oxidized minerals. It is also often found in sedimentary rocks.
What is tetrahedrite mineral?
These samples of tetrahedrite are displayed in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Tetrahedrite is an sulfide mineral of antimony, copper and iron with the composition (Cu,Fe)12Sb4S13 . This sample is about 14×14 cm and is from Mercedes mine, Huanuco, Peru. Tetrahedrite is mined as an ore of copper.
Where is Argentite found?
It occurs in mineral veins, and when found in large masses, as in Mexico and in the Comstock Lode in Nevada, it forms an important ore of silver. The mineral was mentioned in 1529 by G.
What is Ruby silver?
pyrargyrite, a sulfosalt mineral, a silver antimony sulfide (Ag3SbS3), that is an important source of silver, sometimes called ruby silver because of its deep red colour (see also proustite).
What is the use of chalcocite?
Chalcocite is an important copper mineral ore. It has been mined for centuries and is one of the most profitable copper ores. The reasons for this is its high copper content (67% atomic ratio and nearly 80% by weight) and the ease at which copper can be separated from sulfur.