Anilite – Cu₇S₄ – is one of the forms of copper sulfide. It is relatively rare and occurs in copper ores.

There are nine different minerals composed solely of Cu and S. The copper sulfide formed at low temperatures (T < ~105°C) is monoclinic chalcocite. At high temperatures (T > ~105°C) -including in blast furnaces – digenite (trigonal Cu₉S₅) forms. Another copper sulfide, djurleite (monoclinic Cu₃₁S₁₆), is easily confused with chalcocite. Other copper sulfides include anilite, roxbyite (monoclinic Cu₉S₅), spionkopite (trigonal Cu₃₉S₂₈), yarrowite (trigonal Cu₉S₈), geerite (trigonal Cu₈S₅), and covellite (hexagonal CuS). In several of these minerals, Cu is substituted by varying amounts of Ag, Fe, and Mn, and S is substituted by Se and Te. Sample preparation presents serious challenges. This set of complicating factors has historically led to significant confusion and misidentification.

Caution! Anilite transforms into digenite during grinding and polishing processes. Furthermore, upon heating, it decomposes into “high” digenite and covellite starting at ~70°C (±3°C). Consequently, many identifications of “digenite + djurleite” actually refer to “anilite + djurleite.” For this reason, information regarding the microscopic characteristics of anilite is scarce and can be misleading.