Guide
Bornite specimens for sale
24 for sale · $175–$7,000 USD
122 in the gallery
Bornite is a copper iron sulfide mineral that commonly forms in massive, granular, or disseminated habits. Its appearance features a dark bronze to purple-gold tarnish that can display vivid iridescent colors when exposed to weathering, and it carries a bright metallic luster in fresh surfaces. The mineral often occurs in hydrothermal ore veins and porphyry copper deposits, with classic specimens sourced from copper-rich localities around the world. In good collections, bornite is valued for its striking tarnish colors, substantial crystal masses when present, and its association with copper mineral assemblages.
- Formula
- Cu5FeS4
- Rarity
- Common
- Stability
- Stable
- Collector interest
- High Interest
- Classification notes
- Sulfide mineral; copper-iron sulfide group
Key characteristics
- Crystal system
- orthorhombic
- Mohs hardness
- 3–3.3
- Specific gravity
- 5.06–5.08
- Luster
- metallic
- Transparency
- opaque
- Color
- brown, red, blue, violet
- Streak
- gray, black
- Cleavage
- poor
- Fracture
- uneven, subconchoidal
- Crystal habit
- cubic, octahedral, dodecahedral, granular, massive
- Classic / historic
Buy Bornite specimens
View all 24Where Bornite is found
Top localities
- Dzhezkazgan mining district28 specimens
- San Martín Mine12 specimens
- Carn Brea Mine6 specimens
- Dzhezkazgan5 specimens
- Flambeau Mine4 specimens
- Steward Mine3 specimens
- Zimbabwe2 specimens
- Leonard Mine2 specimens
- Cattle Grid Deposit, Oakden Hills2 specimens
- Bisbee1 specimen
Guides
All guides
Guide
Bornite from Dzhezkazgan mining district, Kazakhstan
Dzhezkazgan bornite from Kazakhstan - benchmark locality for display crystals, with sharp pseudo-isometric forms and rich dark tarnish on pale matrix.Read guide
Guide
Bornite from Butte Mining District, Montana, USA
Butte Mining District, Montana — renowned for bornite and copper-sulfide minerals, a rich ore history, and collector-worthy, iridescent specimens.Read guideAbout Bornite
Collectors seek bornite for its dramatic surface iridescence and its historical role in copper mining districts. Notable specimens are frequently found with accompanying chalcopyrite or pyrite, and excellent crystals may come from reputable localities in Kazakhstan, the USA, Mexico, and other copper-rich regions. As a specimen mineral, bornite provides visual appeal from a distance due to its colorful patina and, upon cutting or polishing, reveals a gleaming, metallic surface that highlights its crystal structure and luster. It remains a classic staple for mineral cabinets and display cases.
