10-75 Sulphides

The minerals that make up the sulphide class are composed of metal cations, which are positively charged ions, combined with sulphur.

This class is an important group of minerals that contain the majority of the elements extracted from ore, such as iron, copper, nickel, lead, cobalt, zinc, and silver. An ore is a type of rock containing economically valuable minerals which can be extracted profitably.

Most of the minerals in this class do not allow light to transmit through them (are opaque); but some transparent examples have distinctive colors and coloured streaks. The majority of these minerals in this class are also metallic, tend to have high densities, low hardness, exhibit electrical conductivity, and have black or dark-colored streaks.

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