Chalcopyrite
/ˌkælkəˈpaɪraɪt/noun
A brass-yellow copper iron sulfide mineral, the most important ore of copper.
Did you know?Chalcopyrite was named from Greek khalkos “copper” + pyrites “fire-striking stone,” and the same pyrite root once referred to stones that sparked when struck—basically ancient rock-based technology.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
khalkós (χαλκός)
“copper, bronze”
Ancient Greek
Greek
pyrítēs (πυρίτης)
“fire-striking stone; flint-like stone that sparks”
Late Latin
Latin
chalcopyrites
“a copper-bearing sparkling stone”
18th Century
French/Scientific Latin
chalcopyrite
“named mineral term for copper pyrite”
Modern English
English
chalcopyrite
“a copper iron sulfide ore mineral”