Open Adit™ - Sulfides

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The sulfides are complex minerals in both chemistry and origin. They are usually deposited form aqueous solutions in fault zones of the crust, located near large igneous bodies called batholiths. Great effort has been made to understand the origins and properties of the sulfides because they are amongst the most sought after minerals. Their compounds give rise to the many metals used by society.

The sulphides are in essence oxygen-free compounds of sulphur and one or more metals. In the simplest form the sulfide structure forms spherical packing of large sulphur atoms with the smaller metal atoms in the spaces between. The chemical bonding between metal and sulphur varies in degrees of metallic, ionic and covalent bonds.

Most sulfides have a strong metallic appearance, with a strong colour and metallic lustre. The majority are opaque, have high densities and many of them are brittle, which easily distinguishes them from the native metals. Few stand up well to atmospheric weathering and usually convert to secondary ore minerals.

Sulfides may be subdivided into the simple compounds of metal with sulphur, the sulfides, and into compounds of a metal with sulphur plus a semi-metal such as arsenic, antimony or bismuth. These are known as sulfosalts. Usually included in this group are the corrsponding, but much rarer compounds in which the sulphur is replaced all together by selenium, tellurium, antimony or bismuth.

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