# Bornite

Bornite is a shiny mineral that sparkles with colors like peacock feathers. It's also known as peacock ore for its vibrant hues of blue, purple, and gold.

- **Category:** [Mineral](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mineral)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Also known as:** Peacock Ore

![Bornite](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bornite-105006.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Leon Hupperichs, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bornite-105006.jpg)

## Appearance

The Bornite is typically bronze-brown on a fresh break, but quickly tarnishes to stunning iridescent shades of blue, purple, red, and copper. This mineral looks like a rainbow trapped on a metallic surface, making it easily distinguishable.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia

## Interesting facts

- Ancient civilizations might have melted bornite to get copper for tools and jewelry!
- Bornite can contain up to 63% copper by weight, making it incredibly rich!
- Even though it shines, bornite is soft enough to scratch with a copper penny!
- Its nickname is "Peacock Ore" because of its amazing rainbow-like shine!

## Special abilities

- **Rainbow Maker:** Bornite has a high iron and copper content that reacts with air to create its famous dazzling, iridescent colors.
- **Copper Power-Up:** Bornite is rich in copper, making it a super important mineral for extracting this valuable metal used in wires and pipes.

## Measurements & details

- **Color Range:** bronze, brown, blue, purple, red, copper
- **Hardness:** 3.25
- **Luster:** Metallic
- **Specific Gravity:** 5
- **Crystal System:** Orthorhombic

## Traits

- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Metallic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/metallic): Metallic refers to substances, materials, or objects possessing properties characteristic of metals, such as luster and conductivity.
- [Metallic Luster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/metallic-luster): Metallic luster describes a mineral's appearance when reflecting light, resembling polished metal, often opaque.
- [Gemstone](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/gemstone): A gemstone is a piece of mineral crystal which, when cut and polished, is used to make jewelry or other adornments.
- [Crystalline](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/crystalline): Crystalline describes a mineral or rock composed of crystals, often exhibiting a regular atomic structure and geometric external form.

## Collections

- [Minerals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/minerals)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Bornite is a mineral and safe to observe, but avoid ingesting minerals found in nature.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Bornite?

Compare crystal habit, luster, transparency, cleavage and surface texture. Minerals with different compositions can share almost the same color. Mineral Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### What colors can Bornite be?

bronze, brown, blue, purple, red, copper

### How hard is Bornite?

3.25

### What kind of luster does Bornite have?

Metallic

### What is Bornite's specific gravity?

5

### What crystal system does Bornite belong to?

Orthorhombic

## More Mineral

- [Quartz Crystal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/quartz-crystal)
- [Amethyst](https://www.snappit.app/explore/amethyst)
- [Rose Quartz](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rose-quartz)
- [Citrine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/citrine)

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Source: [Bornite: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bornite)