Locality: Barracanao, Cuba.
Name Origin: Named after its locality.
Cubanite is a yellow mineral of copper, iron, and sulfur, CuFe2S3.Cubanite was first described in 1843 for an occurrence in the Mayarí-Baracoa Belt, Oriente Province, Cuba.Cubanite occurs in high temperature hydrothermal deposits with pyrrhotite and pentlandite as intergrowths with chalcopyrite. It results from exsolution from chalcopyrite at temperatures below 200 to 210 °C. It has also been reported from carbonaceous chondrite meteorites.
Physical Properties of Cubanite
Cleavage: None
Color: Brass yellow, Bronze yellow.
Density: 4.7
Diaphaneity: Opaque
Fracture: Conchoidal – Fractures developed in brittle materials characterized by smoothly curving surfaces, (e.g. quartz).
Hardness: 3.5 – Copper Penny
Luminescence: Non-fluorescent.
Luster: Metallic
Magnetism: Strongly magnetic
Streak: black
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