chalcopyrite

noun

chal·​co·​py·​rite ˌkal-kə-ˈpī-ˌrīt How to pronounce chalcopyrite (audio)
: a yellow mineral that consists of a sulfide of copper and iron and is an important copper ore

Examples of chalcopyrite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Above this sits the indium-free chalcopyrite absorber, followed by a 150-nm cadmium sulfide buffer layer, a zinc oxide window layer, and a metallic grid electrode. Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 14 Mar. 2026 How microbial mining works These microbes are naturally evolved, field-deployable, and highly effective at recovering copper from complex ores such as chalcopyrite and enargite. IEEE Spectrum, 9 Oct. 2025 Most copper, however, comes from chalcopyrite, a very common copper iron sulfide. David Bressan, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024 Mineralization is recorded as hosted within a graphitic sediment horizon with quartz-carbonate veins and semi-massive to massive pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite and pyrrhotite. Sacramento Bee, 13 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin chalcopyrites, from Greek chalkos + Latin pyrites

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chalcopyrite was in 1835

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chalcopyrite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chalcopyrite. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on chalcopyrite

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster