What are the properties of sulfide?
Most of the sulfides are simple structurally, exhibit high symmetry in their crystal forms, and have many of the properties of metals, including metallic lustre and electrical conductivity. They often are strikingly coloured and have a low hardness and a high specific gravity.
What minerals are sulfide?
MINERALS | Sulphides However, only pyrite, pyrrhotite, galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, and possibly the binary copper sulphides of the chalcocite family could be classed as rock-forming minerals. Pyrite (FeS2) is by far the most abundant sulphide mineral.
How do you identify a sulfide mineral?
Sulfide minerals consist of one or more metals combined with sulfur; sulfarsenides contain arsenic replacing some of the sulfur. Sulfides are generally opaque and exhibit distinguishing colours and streaks. (Streak is the colour of a mineral’s powder.)
What is sulfide material?
Sulfide (British English also sulphide) is an inorganic anion of sulfur with the chemical formula S2− or a compound containing one or more S2− ions.
What are sulfide minerals used for?
Many of the most important base metals (such as copper, lead, and zinc) used by humankind are sourced mostly from sulfide minerals. In addition, many precious metals including gold, silver, and PGMs (platinum group metals) are often found in association with sulfidic ores.
How are sulfate minerals different from sulfide minerals?
Sulfate minerals differ from sulfide minerals in that they have oxygen. Minerals are grouped based on their anion or anion group. Sulfate minerals contain the sulfate ion. This anion is formed when sulfur bonds with four oxygen atoms.
How are sulfide minerals formed?
Sulfides also occur in metamorphic rocks where sulfate minerals are broken down by heat and pressure, and in sedimentary rocks where they are formed by the action of sulfate-reducing bacteria. The sulfide mineral specimens you see in rock shops come from the deep levels of mines, and most display a metallic luster.
Why is the sulfide important?
Above all, the sulfides are the most important group of ore minerals because they are responsible for the concentration of a wide range of metals as mineable deposits. They are also potential sources of pollution, be it of the air, surface waters, or soils.
What is a sulfide ore?
Sulphide ores are a major source of Cu, Ni and precious metals. A basic principle of the extraction processes is to blow air into the molten sulphide in order to oxidise (1) S, which forms a gas and (2) Fe, which forms predominantly FeO and then partitions to a slag phase which covers the matte.
Where are sulfide minerals found?
What are sulphide ore?
What are sulfides minerals used for?
General Suggested Uses for Sulfides Rare earth sulfides are semi-conductors and have been used in thermoelectric devices. Alkaline earth sulfides plus those of calcium and zinc are used for phosphor compositions. Molybdenum and tungsten sulfides are widely used, non-graphitic commercial lubricants.
What are the properties of sulfide minerals?
Definition and Properties. Sulfide minerals comprise a group of minerals in which the inorganic anion sulfide (S-2) is typically bound to a metal. The pyrite Jeremiah found in the river is an iron sulfide with the chemical formula FeS2. Minus a few exceptions, most sulfides are opaque, dense, and produce a dark streak.
What is an sulfide?
Sulfides are typically found in igneous rock, but also exist in abundance on the ocean floor thanks to mineral rich water emitted from hydrothermal vents. These minerals are not to be confused with sulfates which are comprised of a central atom surrounded by oxygen atoms.
What is an iron sulfide mineral?
Sulfide minerals comprise a group of minerals in which the inorganic anion sulfide (S -2) is typically bound to a metal. The pyrite Jeremiah found in the river is an iron sulfide with the chemical formula FeS 2. Minus a few exceptions, most sulfides are opaque, dense, and produce a dark streak.
What metals are found in sulfides?
The metals that occur most commonly in sulfides are iron, copper, nickel, lead, cobalt, silver, and zinc, though about fifteen others enter sulfide structures. Almost all sulfide minerals have structural arrangements that belong to six basic types, four of which are important.