Abstract:

The aim of this study was to have an insight into the sulfide mineralogy, mainly based on a book [1] that contains most of the sulfides mineralogical studies prior to the year 1975. In the first two chapters, the metal sulfides crystal structures and chemistries are reviewed. Then, the electronic interactions and chemical bonding followed by experimental methods in sulfides research with the proposed phase equilibria are reviewed. The (Cu, Ni, Zn)-S systems are virtually discussed. Due to its influential and common appearance, in most natural sulfides (the common rock-forming minerals: po and py), the Fe-S system is summarized relatively in detail. Finally, the sulfide petrology is lightly discussed.

 The metal sulfides are the raw materials for most of the world supplies of non-ferrous metals. Their complex chemistry, as a result of high impurities association (such as; As, Sb, Bi, etc...) and less basemetals content (metal poor rocks: X (base-metal) < 1 %), and the ever growing demand for the metals as well as the embroiling need to optimize minerals processing and sulfides smelting claim intense mineralogical studies. The main goal of such studies are to acquire accurate thermodynamic data which are useful to predict reactions and stable relationships, and in defining the limiting conditions under which phases may exist. 

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