Minerals are classified into the sulfide category if they contain at least one metallic element linked with sulfur. Consequently, sulfide minerals are dominated by Sulfur groups covalently bonded to metals. Due to covalent bonding, Sulfur pairs or disulfides occur in the structure of some Sulfide minerals, such as Pyrite (Chemical formula FeS2). The chemical formula of all Sulfides contains at least one metal atom and one sulfur atom.
Common physical properties of Sulfide minerals include a high density, low hardness, and opaqueness. Additionally, Sulfide minerals exhibit metallic properties such as a metallic luster and a degree of conductivity.
Alongside Oxides, Sulfides have prime economic importance as ores of industrial metals such as Lead, Iron, Copper, Zinc, and Silver, Nickel, Cobalt, Molybdenum, and Mercury.
Sulfide minerals form in many types of rocks and environments, primarily occurring in Igneous and Metamorphic rocks.
Notable examples of Sulfides include Galena, Pyrite, Cinnabar, Realgar, and Sphalerite.
Examples
Industrial Ores
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Galena
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Pyrite
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Sphalerite
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Acanthite
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Chalcopyrite
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Cinnabar
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Realgar
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Millerite
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Orpiment
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Marcasite
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Stibnite
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Molybdenite
Sulfarsenides (Arsenic Sulfides)
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Arsenopyrite
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Cobaltite
Sulfosalts
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Proustite
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Tetrahedrite
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Tennantite
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Enargite
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Bournonite
References
Vaughan, David J. “Minerals: Sulfides.” Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences, Elsevier, 2020.
Vaughan, D. J. “Chemical Bonding in Sulfide Minerals.” Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, vol. 61, no. 1, 2006, pp. 231–264., doi:https://doi.org/10.2138/rmg.2006.61.5 ↗.