Copper ore specific weight: density and varieties

Copper ore belongs to the group of non-ferrous metal ores. In oxidized ores, metals are contained as oxygen-containing compounds: carbonates, silicates, oxides, sulfates and other minerals. Copper occurs in mixed ores containing the metal in oxidized and sulfide form, as well as in native ores in a free state. Primary ores of most industrial deposits contain copper in sulfide forms.

Today mineralogy knows more than 200 different natural mineral formations containing copper. Among them, those suitable for development include:

• Sulfide ores: chalcopyrite - 34-35% copper, bornite - from 52 to 65%, chalcocite - contains up to 80%.
• Copper-nickel ores: cubanite - from 22 to 45% Cu.
• Native copper - from 98 to 100%.
• Oxidized ores: malachite - up to 57.5%, azurite - up to 56%, chrysocolla up to 36%, brochantite - up to 56%, cuprite - up to 89% and others.

Copper ore deposits

Ores called copper ores also contain many other minerals. It is economically profitable to develop deposits with copper content above 0.5%.

The largest industrial deposits are formations on the Kola Peninsula, in Chile and Zambia; large deposits of porphyry copper ores are being developed in the USA, Poland, Canada, Peru and other countries. According to scientists, all large industrial deposits contain more than 680 million tonnes of copper.

Native copper with the maximum content of pure metal in natural formations is extremely rare. The most common copper-containing compounds are:

• Bornite. The mineral was discovered by the Czech scientist I. Born, after whom it was named. Better-known names are peacock ore or copper purple. Depending on genesis, the mineral may look different. It contains up to a quarter sulfur and more than 10% Fe. Copper content in bornite reaches 63%.

• Chalcopyrite, or copper pyrite, is a mineral of hydrothermal origin and belongs to polymetallic ores.

• Chalcocite. This ore may contain up to 80% copper, with the rest being sulfur. Thanks to its dense-grained shiny surface with shades from lead-gray to deep black, the mineral received the name “copper glance”.

Among rare copper-containing formations, the best known are:

• Malachite has a beautiful bright structure. The green stone is widely used as an ornamental material. Basic copper carbonate green belongs to the class of polymetallic copper ores. Other copper-containing rocks, such as cuprite and native copper, often occur near malachite.

• Azurite, or copper azure. This bright blue mineral has special hardness. Deposit development is located in Congo, Morocco, Greece, France, Great Britain and Australia. Near deposits of malachite and azurite, which often intergrow, there are deposits of sulfide copper ores.

• Covellite is a sulfide-group mineral first found at the foot of Vesuvius and has metasomatic origin. It is a fairly soft bluish-lilac mineral with metallic luster. Copper content is more than 65%. Developed deposits are located in Chile, the USA, Serbia and Italy.

The specific weight of copper ore may differ depending on mineral type and composition. The copper ore density table contains average reference values of specific weight, whose numerical value in the SI system coincides with density.