Minerals from Macedonia VI. Separation and identification of some sulfide minerals

Among the rich ore deposits present in Macedonia, the sulfide minerals are being the mostly exploited ones. Some of these minerals appear as well formed single crystal species in the nature, but often some other mineral forms accompany them. The difficulties connected with the selection. separation, purification, identification and characterization of several sulfide minerals (galena. PbS; sphalerite/wurtzite (Zn.Fe)S; pyrite, FeS2; chalcopyrite, CuFeS2) from various localities (Sasa, Bucim, Zletovo, Toranica) were discussed. Identification was based on the comparison of our results (obtained by use of the infrared and Raman vibrational spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction) with the corresponding literature data for the analogous mineral species originating all over the world.