|
|
 |  |  |  |
Welcome!
Cuprite
Posted by Rock Currier
|
|
Cuprite September 13, 2010 07:09AM |
Click here to view Best Minerals C and here for Best Minerals A to Z and here for Fast Navigation of all Best Minerals articles.
Can you help make this a better article? What good localities have we missed? Can you supply pictures of better specimens than those we show here? Can you give us more and better information about the specimens from these localities? Can you supply better geological or historical information on these localities?
Cuprite
Cu2O Isometric
Cuprite is a common copper mineral found in the oxidized portions of copper deposits. Mindat currently lists more than 2100 (2010) localities for cuprite and the Handbook of mineralogy list the largest crystal found at about 14 cm. Probably the best large cuprite crystals as specimens come from Ogonja, Namibia, but most of the Cuprites from this mine have a coating of Malachite which is also found on Cuprites from other localities like those from the classic locality of Chessy, France. It is not uncommon to find it coating or encrusted on specimens of copper. Cuprite is most commonly found in cubes, octahedrons and dodecahedrons.
Given how common the mineral is in copper deposits good specimens come from surprisingly few localities. A red hair like variety is called chalcotrichite several examples of these are shown below. Sometimes this variety is not so hair like but the cubes are long and thin and stretched out, but they are mostly hair like. Bisbee, Arizona, USA and Chessy, France used to be the premier localities, but than those from Ogonja became available and more recently (2010) specimens from the Rubtsovskoe mine in Russia may supplant these localities as the best producer of cuprite specimens. Some specimens of cuprite are red, shiny and transparent and stones of more than 50 carats have been cut from crystals from Ogonja. I believe this mineral to be light sensitive and would advise keeping any fine red examples strictly in a dark cool place.
[Rock Currier 2010]
Cuprite
Australia
New South Wales, Robinson Co., Cobar
Cuprite
Australia
New South Wales, Yancowinna Co., Broken Hill
Cuprite
Australia
Northern Territory, Gulf of Carpenteria, Wollogorang Station, Red Bank Mine
Cuprite
Australia
Queensland, Tablelands Region, Chillagoe-Herberton District, Chillagoe, Red Dome Mine
Cuprite
Australia
South Australia, Yorke Peninsula, Kadina, Wallaroo Mine
Cuprite
Australia
South Australia, Yorke Peninsula, Moonta
Cuprite
Bolivia
La Paz Department, Pacajes Province, Corocoro
This locality is far better known for its classic Copper pseudomorphs after twinned Aragonite crystals with hexagonal morphology, but Cuprite pseudomorphs after Aragonite are also found on rare occasions - a few tens of specimens, compared with thousands of the native Copper after Aragonite. (We do not yet have any pictures of the Cuprite pseudomorphs after Aragonite from this locality.) The cuprite pseudos perhaps formed from the native copper pseudos after a fall in the water table exposed the native copper to air. They range from just thin crusts of drusy cuprite coating the native copper pseudomorphs, to partial replacements with copper still in the centers, all the way to rare complete replacements with no native copper left in them. The completely altered Cuprite pseudomorphs tend to have rounded edges and are rarely as sharp as the copper pseudomorphs. (For more description of how these pseudos occur, please see under the Copper page.)
In the 1990s, I and Jaroslav Hyrsl were selling a few of these Cuprite pseudomorphs at the Munich show. We had divided them into two piles, one pile of those which still had copper in their centers and a smaller pile, more expensive, of ones that had completely altered to Cuprite, with no native copper left inside. A somewhat academically arrogant European mineralogist approached the table and criticized us for selling inaccurately labelled material because there was no way, in his opinion, for us to be certain about the degree of replacement without sacrificing them to be sawn open to reveal the interiors. We informed him that the pseudos had been checked with a metal detector (a low-tech electronic instrument that is not part of most mineralogists' laboratory equipment), and that it was quite easy to select the ones that had no metallic copper left inside! The pompous professor retreated in embarrassment.
[Alfredo Petrov, September 2010]
Cuprite
Chile
Antofagasta Region, El Loa Province, Calama, Chuquicamata District, Chuquicamata Mine
Cuprite
Chile
Atacama Region, Chañaral Province, Inca de Oro
Cuprite
China
Guangdong Province
Cuprite
China
Jiangxi Province, Jiujiang Prefecture, Jiujiang Co., Jiurui Mining District, Chengmenshan Cu-Mo-Au deposit
Cuprite
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Katanga (Shaba), Katanga Copper Crescent, Western area, Kolwezi, Dikuluwe Mine
It may be that some of the mines in the Congo may yet produce the worlds best Cuprite specimens. I have seen indication rough damaged red gemmy crystals of Cuprite in excess of four cm but as yet the mines of the Congo have yet to produce quantities of really good specimens though the ones pictured below are not to be sniffed at and would grace almost any collection.
[Rock Currier 2010]
Cuprite
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Katanga (Shaba), Katanga Copper Crescent, Western area, Kolwezi, Kamoto, Kamoto Principal Mine (Kamoto Fond Mine; Kamoto Mine)
Cuprite
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Katanga (Shaba), Katanga Copper Crescent, Western area, Kolwezi, Mashamba West Mine
Cuprite
France
Midi-Pyrénées, Tarn, Villefranche d'Albigeois, Mont-Roc Mine
Cuprite
France
Rhône-Alpes, Rhône, Chessy-les-Mines
Cuprites from Chessy are almost always coated with malachite and sometimes the alteration is complete. They are commonly octahedral and perhaps the largest they get is in the 3 to 4cm range, but these larger ones are quite rare and tend to be "hoppered".
Cuprite
Germany
Baden-Württemberg, Black Forest, Wolfach, Oberwolfach, Rankach valley, Clara Mine
Cuprite
Greece
Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture, Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District, Lavrion District Mines, Agios Konstantinos [St Constantine] (Kamariza), Kamariza Mines (Kamareza Mines), Hilarion area, Hilarion Mine (Hilarion adit; Hilarion Mine No. 50)
Cuprite
Hungary
Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén Co., Rudabányai Mts., Rudabánya
Cuprite
Italy
Tuscany, Livorno Province, Piombino, Baratti (slag locality)
Cuprite
Japan
Japan has numerous localities for cuprite (seki-dohkoh in japanese), although Mindat has no photos of japanese cuprites yet. Here are some brief notes on some of the better or more interesting japanese cuprite localities, arranged by alphabetical order of prefectures, to be expanded and rearranged as we get photos:
Akita prefecture: Silky capillary cuprite aggregates (“chalcotrichite”) to over 1cm across, or granular xls with cubic, octahedral, cuboctahedral and rhombic dodecahedra habits, sometimes beautiful and transparent red, in drusy vugs at the Arakawa copper mine. Also associated with malachite and chrysocolla, coating crude octahedral copper crystals. As octahedral, cubic or cuboctahedral xl aggregates associated with native copper at the Kisamori copper mine. At the Hisaichi copper mine, cuprite occurs in two habits, sometimes together on the same specimen: strawberry-red capillary aggregates to 2cm across, and cubic crystals modified by octahedral faces, intimately associated with native copper, malachite and earthy limonite, in fractures in oxidized chalcopyrite-pyrite-chlorite-quartz vein. Beautiful transparent crimson equant cuprite crystals accompany distorted copper crystals at the Kosaka mine. Also at the Ani mine and the Osarizawa mine.
Ishikawa prefecture: Cuprite as massive aggregates of octahedral xls to a few mm, intimately associated with dendritic copper at the Ogoya copper mine, in oxide zone fractures in a chalcopyrite-quartz vein.
Iwate prefecture: With aggregates of native copper crystals at the Tsuchihata mine.
Osaka: Large cuprite masses, sometimes with distinct equant transparent crystals in cavities, at Kakinoki.
Tottori: Sharp free-standing octahedral crystals to 2mm, truncated by cube faces, in vuggy oxide zone of copper sulfide ores at the Iwami copper-lead-zinc mine. Also associated with malachite as coatings on dendritic native copper.
Yamaguchi: Massive aggregates of both acicular and granular xls in oxide zone of a contact copper deposit from the Yamato (Ofuku) mine. Aggregates of 1mm capillary crystals loosely filling 0.5 cm vugs make nice micromount material.
[Alfredo Petrov, Sepember 2010]
Cuprite
Kazakhstan
Zhezqazghan Oblysy (Dzezkazgan Oblast'; Dzhezkazgan Oblast'; Djezkazgan Oblast'; Jezkazgan Oblast')
Cuprite
Kazakhstan
Zhezqazghan Oblysy (Dzezkazgan Oblast'; Dzhezkazgan Oblast'; Djezkazgan Oblast'; Jezkazgan Oblast'), Itauz Mine
Cuprite
Mexico
Durango, Mun. de Mapimí, Mapimí
Cuprite
Mongolia
Altai Aimag
Cuprite
Namibia
Khomas Region, Windhoek District, Seeis, Ogonja (Onganja)
When these giant Cuprites appeared on the market they were generally acknowledged as the worlds best. Many of them were transparent once the external malachite had been removed with acid. A few very large faceted stones were cut from some of these crystals. One of the specimens shown above has had the malachite coating carefully removed from it leaving the malachite coating intact on the adjacent Cuprite crystals. Many of these specimens were associated with a not very distinguished looking calcite.
[Rock Currier 2010]
Cuprite
Namibia
Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Tsumeb
Tsumeb has produced some fine Cuprite specimens, and of surprising variety. It is doubtful that there will be any more specimens from this once prolific source, at least in the immediate future.
Cuprite
Namibia
Otjozondjupa Region, Grootfontein District, Kombat, Kombat Mine
Cuprite
Russia
Urals Region, Middle Urals, Ekaterinburgskaya (Sverdlovskaya) Oblast', Ekaterinburg (Sverdlovsk)
Cuprite
Russia
Urals Region, Middle Urals, Ekaterinburgskaya (Sverdlovskaya) Oblast', Nizhnii Tagil, Mednorudyanskoye Cu Deposit
Cuprite
Russia
Western-Siberian Region, Altaiskii Krai, Rudnyi Altai, Rubtsovskoe Cu-Zn-Pb deposit
In 2010 a fine pocket of Cuprites were encountered at this mine and many fine specimen were present at the Denver Gem and Mineral show. The Cuprites were predominately octahedrons and quite black and shiny. I saw one fine crystals that must have been at least six cm and heard roomers of larger crystals. Many of the specimens were associated with little blebs of crystallized silver and some with Marshite. There were hundreds of specimens to choose from. Good TNs were in the $200 plus range and good miniatures usually started in the $1000 plus range.
[Rock Currier 2010]
Cuprite
UK
England, Cornwall, Liskeard District, Caradon & Phoenix Area (South-Eastern Bodmin Moor), Linkinhorne, Wheal Phoenix (Phoenix United Mine; West Phoenix Mine)
Historically the best specimens from this mine were considered the worlds best and rivaled only by those from Bisbee, Arizona, USA. The one pictured at the top of this article is considered by many to be perhaps the best Cuprite that was produced from this mine.
Cuprite
UK
England, Cornwall, Liskeard District, Caradon & Phoenix Area (South-Eastern Bodmin Moor), St Cleer, South Caradon Mine
Cuprite
UIK
Cornwall, Camborne - Redruth - St Day District, Gwennap area, Wheal Gorland, St Day United Mines (Poldice Mines)
Jolyon promises better pictures.
Cuprite
UK
England, Cornwall, St Austell District, Tywardreath, Par Area, Fowey Consols (Wheals Treasure; Fortune; Chance; Polharmon; Lanescot)
Cuprite
UK
England, Cornwall, St Just District, Botallack - Pendeen Area, Botallack, Botallack Mine, Wheal Hazard (Hazard Section)
Cuprite
UK
England, Leicestershire, Stanton under Bardon, New Cliffe Hill Quarry
Usually we would not include pictures of 3mm cuprite crystals here, but I have it on good authority that this is an important cuprite locality and Jolyon has promised better pictures to substantiate this claim.
Cuprite
USA
Arizona, Cochise Co., Mule Mts, Warren District, Bisbee
For many years the Cuprites from Bisbee were considered the only real rival to those from England. Louis Gratacap in his A Popular Guide to Minerals says about the Cuprites in the Bement collection: "The Arizona specimens are fine and sometimes give a patriot a pardonable thrill of pride in their flattering comparison with their famous English competitors."
Cuprite
USA
Arizona, Cochise Co., Mule Mts, Warren District, Bisbee, Southwest Mine
Cuprite
USA
Arizona, Gila Co., Dripping Spring Mts, Banner District, Christmas area, Christmas, Christmas Mine (Red Bird shafts; Inspiration Mine; Hackberry shafts), Christmas open pit
Cuprite
USA
Arizona, Gila Co., Globe-Miami District, Globe Hills District, Globe Hills, Burch, Pinal Creek, Original Old Dominion Mine (Keystone Mine; Keystone deposit; Keystone vein; Original Old Dominion vein)
Cuprite
USA
Arizona, Pinal Co., Dripping Spring Mts, Mineral Creek District (Ray District), Ray
Cuprite
USA
Arizona, Yavapai Co., Eureka District, Bagdad
Cuprite
USA
Nevada, Elko Co., Mountain City District, Rio Tinto mine (Mountain City Copper mine)
Cuprite
USA
New Mexico, Grant Co., Santa Rita District, Santa Rita
Cuprite
USA
New Mexico, Grant Co., Santa Rita District, Santa Rita, Chino Mine (Santa Rita Pit; Santa Rita Mine)
Click here to view Best Minerals C and here for Best Minerals A to Z and here for Fast Navigation of all Best Minerals articles.
Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.
Edited 42 time(s). Last edit at 11/20/2010 05:44AM by Rock Currier.
Can you help make this a better article? What good localities have we missed? Can you supply pictures of better specimens than those we show here? Can you give us more and better information about the specimens from these localities? Can you supply better geological or historical information on these localities?
Cuprite
Cu2O Isometric
Cuprite is a common copper mineral found in the oxidized portions of copper deposits. Mindat currently lists more than 2100 (2010) localities for cuprite and the Handbook of mineralogy list the largest crystal found at about 14 cm. Probably the best large cuprite crystals as specimens come from Ogonja, Namibia, but most of the Cuprites from this mine have a coating of Malachite which is also found on Cuprites from other localities like those from the classic locality of Chessy, France. It is not uncommon to find it coating or encrusted on specimens of copper. Cuprite is most commonly found in cubes, octahedrons and dodecahedrons.
Given how common the mineral is in copper deposits good specimens come from surprisingly few localities. A red hair like variety is called chalcotrichite several examples of these are shown below. Sometimes this variety is not so hair like but the cubes are long and thin and stretched out, but they are mostly hair like. Bisbee, Arizona, USA and Chessy, France used to be the premier localities, but than those from Ogonja became available and more recently (2010) specimens from the Rubtsovskoe mine in Russia may supplant these localities as the best producer of cuprite specimens. Some specimens of cuprite are red, shiny and transparent and stones of more than 50 carats have been cut from crystals from Ogonja. I believe this mineral to be light sensitive and would advise keeping any fine red examples strictly in a dark cool place.
[Rock Currier 2010]
Cuprite
Australia
New South Wales, Robinson Co., Cobar
Cuprite
Australia
New South Wales, Yancowinna Co., Broken Hill
 | |
| Cuprite on Copper 5.4cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
Cuprite
Australia
Northern Territory, Gulf of Carpenteria, Wollogorang Station, Red Bank Mine
 | |
| Cuprite var. chalcotrichite ~1.9cm tall | © Maggie Wilson |
Cuprite
Australia
Queensland, Tablelands Region, Chillagoe-Herberton District, Chillagoe, Red Dome Mine
 | |
| Cuprite ~4cm wide | © J.Ralph 2008 |
 | |
| Cuprite 3.6cm tall | © Keith Compton |
 | |
| Cuprite 3cm wide | © Greg Murray |
 | |
| Cuprite 2.2cm wide | © Joseph A. Freilich, LLC |
Cuprite
Australia
South Australia, Yorke Peninsula, Kadina, Wallaroo Mine
Cuprite
Australia
South Australia, Yorke Peninsula, Moonta
 | |
| Cuprite 1.5cm tall | © Maggie Wilson |
Cuprite
Bolivia
La Paz Department, Pacajes Province, Corocoro
This locality is far better known for its classic Copper pseudomorphs after twinned Aragonite crystals with hexagonal morphology, but Cuprite pseudomorphs after Aragonite are also found on rare occasions - a few tens of specimens, compared with thousands of the native Copper after Aragonite. (We do not yet have any pictures of the Cuprite pseudomorphs after Aragonite from this locality.) The cuprite pseudos perhaps formed from the native copper pseudos after a fall in the water table exposed the native copper to air. They range from just thin crusts of drusy cuprite coating the native copper pseudomorphs, to partial replacements with copper still in the centers, all the way to rare complete replacements with no native copper left in them. The completely altered Cuprite pseudomorphs tend to have rounded edges and are rarely as sharp as the copper pseudomorphs. (For more description of how these pseudos occur, please see under the Copper page.)
In the 1990s, I and Jaroslav Hyrsl were selling a few of these Cuprite pseudomorphs at the Munich show. We had divided them into two piles, one pile of those which still had copper in their centers and a smaller pile, more expensive, of ones that had completely altered to Cuprite, with no native copper left inside. A somewhat academically arrogant European mineralogist approached the table and criticized us for selling inaccurately labelled material because there was no way, in his opinion, for us to be certain about the degree of replacement without sacrificing them to be sawn open to reveal the interiors. We informed him that the pseudos had been checked with a metal detector (a low-tech electronic instrument that is not part of most mineralogists' laboratory equipment), and that it was quite easy to select the ones that had no metallic copper left inside! The pompous professor retreated in embarrassment.
[Alfredo Petrov, September 2010]
Cuprite
Chile
Antofagasta Region, El Loa Province, Calama, Chuquicamata District, Chuquicamata Mine
 | |
| Cuprite 6.5cm | © Rob Lavinsky |
Cuprite
Chile
Atacama Region, Chañaral Province, Inca de Oro
 | |
| Cuprite on Copper 4.2cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
Cuprite
China
Guangdong Province
 | |
| Cuprite on bronze 2.56cm wide | © Pavel M. Kartashov |
Cuprite
China
Jiangxi Province, Jiujiang Prefecture, Jiujiang Co., Jiurui Mining District, Chengmenshan Cu-Mo-Au deposit
 | |
| Cuprite FOV 4cm | © Tony Peterson |
 | |
| Cuprite 4.4cm wide | © fabreminerals.com |
 | |
| Cuprite & micro Delafossite 4.7cm wide] | © Rob Lavinsky |
Cuprite
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Katanga (Shaba), Katanga Copper Crescent, Western area, Kolwezi, Dikuluwe Mine
 | |
| Cuprite 5cm tall | © 2001 John H. Betts |
 | |
| Cuprite 7cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Cuprite & Malachite 8cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Cuprite 3.1cm | © Weinrich Minerals |
It may be that some of the mines in the Congo may yet produce the worlds best Cuprite specimens. I have seen indication rough damaged red gemmy crystals of Cuprite in excess of four cm but as yet the mines of the Congo have yet to produce quantities of really good specimens though the ones pictured below are not to be sniffed at and would grace almost any collection.
[Rock Currier 2010]
Cuprite
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Katanga (Shaba), Katanga Copper Crescent, Western area, Kolwezi, Kamoto, Kamoto Principal Mine (Kamoto Fond Mine; Kamoto Mine)
 | |
| Cuprite on Plancheite 4.3cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
Cuprite
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Katanga (Shaba), Katanga Copper Crescent, Western area, Kolwezi, Mashamba West Mine
 | |
| Cuprite & Plancheite 2cm tall | © Michael C. Roarke |
 | |
| Cuprite 5.9cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Cuprite xl 3.2cm wide | © Joseph A. Freilich, LLC |
 | |
| Cuprite & Malachite 4.5cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Cuprite on Malachite 4.6cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Cuprite 5.5cm wide | © fabreminerals.com |
 | |
| Cuprite 3.5cm wide | © Russell G. Rizzo |
 | |
| Cuprite 3.1cm wide | © CCURTO08 |
 | |
| Cuprite 5.3cm across | © Dan Weinrich Minerals |
 | |
| Cuprite & Plancheite 2cm wide | © 2001 John H. Betts |
 | |
| Cuprite 3cm tall | © Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals |
 | |
| Cuprite on Chrysocolla 2.5cm wide | © Weinrich Minerals |
 | |
| Cuprite on Chrysocolla 10.7cm wide | © Weinrich Minerals |
 | |
| Cuprite 2.4cm wide | © Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals |
Cuprite
France
Midi-Pyrénées, Tarn, Villefranche d'Albigeois, Mont-Roc Mine
Cuprite
France
Rhône-Alpes, Rhône, Chessy-les-Mines
 | |
| Cuprite 1cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Cuprite altering to Malachite 1.7cm | © Keith F Compton |
 | |
| Cuprite to Malachite 2.3cm | © G.E.G.M - FRANCE |
 | |
| Cuprite to Malachite on Azurite 3cm across | © CLAUDE.jm |
 | |
| Cuprites altering to Malachite, largest 1.2cm | © DR |
 | |
| Cuprite altering to Malachite 2.1cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
Cuprites from Chessy are almost always coated with malachite and sometimes the alteration is complete. They are commonly octahedral and perhaps the largest they get is in the 3 to 4cm range, but these larger ones are quite rare and tend to be "hoppered".
Cuprite
Germany
Baden-Württemberg, Black Forest, Wolfach, Oberwolfach, Rankach valley, Clara Mine
 | |
| Cuprite FOV 5mm | © Stephan Wolfsried |
 | |
| Cuprite FOV 5mm | © Stephan Wolfsried |
Cuprite
Greece
Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture, Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District, Lavrion District Mines, Agios Konstantinos [St Constantine] (Kamariza), Kamariza Mines (Kamareza Mines), Hilarion area, Hilarion Mine (Hilarion adit; Hilarion Mine No. 50)
 | |
| Cuprite & Connellite FOV 8mm | © |
Cuprite
Hungary
Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén Co., Rudabányai Mts., Rudabánya
 | |
| Cuprite to Malachite 2.9cm | © Adam Szilveszter, 2009 |
 | |
| Cuprite to Malachite 5.8cm tall | © Adam Szilveszter, 2010 |
Cuprite
Italy
Tuscany, Livorno Province, Piombino, Baratti (slag locality)
 | |
| Cuprite 0.7mm | © luigi mattei |
 | |
| Cuprite var chalcotrichite FOV 1mm | © |
Cuprite
Japan
Japan has numerous localities for cuprite (seki-dohkoh in japanese), although Mindat has no photos of japanese cuprites yet. Here are some brief notes on some of the better or more interesting japanese cuprite localities, arranged by alphabetical order of prefectures, to be expanded and rearranged as we get photos:
Akita prefecture: Silky capillary cuprite aggregates (“chalcotrichite”) to over 1cm across, or granular xls with cubic, octahedral, cuboctahedral and rhombic dodecahedra habits, sometimes beautiful and transparent red, in drusy vugs at the Arakawa copper mine. Also associated with malachite and chrysocolla, coating crude octahedral copper crystals. As octahedral, cubic or cuboctahedral xl aggregates associated with native copper at the Kisamori copper mine. At the Hisaichi copper mine, cuprite occurs in two habits, sometimes together on the same specimen: strawberry-red capillary aggregates to 2cm across, and cubic crystals modified by octahedral faces, intimately associated with native copper, malachite and earthy limonite, in fractures in oxidized chalcopyrite-pyrite-chlorite-quartz vein. Beautiful transparent crimson equant cuprite crystals accompany distorted copper crystals at the Kosaka mine. Also at the Ani mine and the Osarizawa mine.
Ishikawa prefecture: Cuprite as massive aggregates of octahedral xls to a few mm, intimately associated with dendritic copper at the Ogoya copper mine, in oxide zone fractures in a chalcopyrite-quartz vein.
Iwate prefecture: With aggregates of native copper crystals at the Tsuchihata mine.
Osaka: Large cuprite masses, sometimes with distinct equant transparent crystals in cavities, at Kakinoki.
Tottori: Sharp free-standing octahedral crystals to 2mm, truncated by cube faces, in vuggy oxide zone of copper sulfide ores at the Iwami copper-lead-zinc mine. Also associated with malachite as coatings on dendritic native copper.
Yamaguchi: Massive aggregates of both acicular and granular xls in oxide zone of a contact copper deposit from the Yamato (Ofuku) mine. Aggregates of 1mm capillary crystals loosely filling 0.5 cm vugs make nice micromount material.
[Alfredo Petrov, Sepember 2010]
Cuprite
Kazakhstan
Zhezqazghan Oblysy (Dzezkazgan Oblast'; Dzhezkazgan Oblast'; Djezkazgan Oblast'; Jezkazgan Oblast')
 | |
| Cuprite ~2.5cm wide | © |
Cuprite
Kazakhstan
Zhezqazghan Oblysy (Dzezkazgan Oblast'; Dzhezkazgan Oblast'; Djezkazgan Oblast'; Jezkazgan Oblast'), Itauz Mine
 | |
| Cuprite 2cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Cuprite on Copper 6cm wide | © Tony Peterson |
Cuprite
Mexico
Durango, Mun. de Mapimí, Mapimí
Cuprite
Mongolia
Altai Aimag
 | |
| Cuprite 1.5cm wide | © fabreminerals.com |
Cuprite
Namibia
Khomas Region, Windhoek District, Seeis, Ogonja (Onganja)
 | |
| Cuprite altering to Malachite | © J.Ralph |
 | |
| Malachite on Cuprite 3.8cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Cuprite crystal 7cm wide + cut stone | © J.Ralph |
 | |
| Cuprite altering to Malachite ~7cm across | © |
 | |
| Cuprite altering to Malachite on calcite ~10cm tall | © |
 | |
| Cuprite to Malachite 2.5cm wide | © Renee Teresa Polityka |
 | |
| Cuprite altering to Malachite 5cm wide | © |
 | |
| Cuprite altering to Malachite on Calcite 7.5cm wide | © |
 | |
| Cuprite on Calcite 3.3cm tall | © Weinrich Minerals |
When these giant Cuprites appeared on the market they were generally acknowledged as the worlds best. Many of them were transparent once the external malachite had been removed with acid. A few very large faceted stones were cut from some of these crystals. One of the specimens shown above has had the malachite coating carefully removed from it leaving the malachite coating intact on the adjacent Cuprite crystals. Many of these specimens were associated with a not very distinguished looking calcite.
[Rock Currier 2010]
Cuprite
Namibia
Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Tsumeb
 | |
| Cuprite & Mimetite 2.2cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Cuprite 2.3cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Cuprite on Calcite 5.5cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Cuprite & Duftite 3.4 cm wide | © Weinrich Minerals |
 | |
| Cuprite 3.1cm wide | © Javier Taguas |
 | |
| Cuprite, big xl 2.5cm | © Kristalle and Crys |
 | |
| Cuprite, Willemite, Calcite 4.2cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Cuprite 5.6cm wide | © Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals |
 | |
| Cuprite & Mimetite on Dolomite 7.5cm wide | © |
 | |
| Cuprite & Malachite 2.4cm tall | © Fabre Minerals |
Tsumeb has produced some fine Cuprite specimens, and of surprising variety. It is doubtful that there will be any more specimens from this once prolific source, at least in the immediate future.
Cuprite
Namibia
Otjozondjupa Region, Grootfontein District, Kombat, Kombat Mine
 | |
| Cuprite & Calcite 5cm wide | © R. Lang 2008 |
 | |
| Cuprite 3.8cm wide | © Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals |
Cuprite
Russia
Urals Region, Middle Urals, Ekaterinburgskaya (Sverdlovskaya) Oblast', Ekaterinburg (Sverdlovsk)
 | |
| Cuprite 2.8cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
Cuprite
Russia
Urals Region, Middle Urals, Ekaterinburgskaya (Sverdlovskaya) Oblast', Nizhnii Tagil, Mednorudyanskoye Cu Deposit
 | |
| Cuprite 6.8cm tall | © Dan Weinrich |
 | |
| Cuprite 6.9cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Cuprite 6.8cm tall | © Weinrich Minerals |
Cuprite
Russia
Western-Siberian Region, Altaiskii Krai, Rudnyi Altai, Rubtsovskoe Cu-Zn-Pb deposit
 | |
| Cuprite 5.8cm tall | © fabreminerals.com |
 | |
| Cuprite 2.1cm tall | © fabreminerals.com |
 | |
| Cuprite 3.3cm tall | © fabreminerals.com |
In 2010 a fine pocket of Cuprites were encountered at this mine and many fine specimen were present at the Denver Gem and Mineral show. The Cuprites were predominately octahedrons and quite black and shiny. I saw one fine crystals that must have been at least six cm and heard roomers of larger crystals. Many of the specimens were associated with little blebs of crystallized silver and some with Marshite. There were hundreds of specimens to choose from. Good TNs were in the $200 plus range and good miniatures usually started in the $1000 plus range.
[Rock Currier 2010]
Cuprite
UK
England, Cornwall, Liskeard District, Caradon & Phoenix Area (South-Eastern Bodmin Moor), Linkinhorne, Wheal Phoenix (Phoenix United Mine; West Phoenix Mine)
 | |
| Cuprite 5cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Cuprite 4cm tall | © Crystal Vine |
 | |
| Cuprite ~6cm wide | © |
 | |
| Cuprite, large xl ~2cm | © |
Historically the best specimens from this mine were considered the worlds best and rivaled only by those from Bisbee, Arizona, USA. The one pictured at the top of this article is considered by many to be perhaps the best Cuprite that was produced from this mine.
Cuprite
UK
England, Cornwall, Liskeard District, Caradon & Phoenix Area (South-Eastern Bodmin Moor), St Cleer, South Caradon Mine
 | |
| Cuprite ~4cm tall | © Ian Jones |
Cuprite
UIK
Cornwall, Camborne - Redruth - St Day District, Gwennap area, Wheal Gorland, St Day United Mines (Poldice Mines)
 | |
| Cuprite, silly coin for scale | © J.Ralph 2001 |
 | |
| Cuprite 12cm tall | © J.Ralph 2001 |
Jolyon promises better pictures.
Cuprite
UK
England, Cornwall, St Austell District, Tywardreath, Par Area, Fowey Consols (Wheals Treasure; Fortune; Chance; Polharmon; Lanescot)
Cuprite
UK
England, Cornwall, St Just District, Botallack - Pendeen Area, Botallack, Botallack Mine, Wheal Hazard (Hazard Section)
 | |
| Cuprite on Copper ~7cm tall | © G.E.G.M - FRANCE |
Cuprite
UK
England, Leicestershire, Stanton under Bardon, New Cliffe Hill Quarry
 | |
| Cuprite crystal ~3mm | © Colleen Thomson |
Usually we would not include pictures of 3mm cuprite crystals here, but I have it on good authority that this is an important cuprite locality and Jolyon has promised better pictures to substantiate this claim.
Cuprite
USA
Arizona, Cochise Co., Mule Mts, Warren District, Bisbee
 | |
| Cuprite ~4cm wide | © |
 | |
| Cuprite v. chalcotrichite 5cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Cuprite ~5cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
For many years the Cuprites from Bisbee were considered the only real rival to those from England. Louis Gratacap in his A Popular Guide to Minerals says about the Cuprites in the Bement collection: "The Arizona specimens are fine and sometimes give a patriot a pardonable thrill of pride in their flattering comparison with their famous English competitors."
Cuprite
USA
Arizona, Cochise Co., Mule Mts, Warren District, Bisbee, Southwest Mine
 | |
| Cuprite on Malachite ~4cm wide? | © J.Ralph |
Cuprite
USA
Arizona, Gila Co., Dripping Spring Mts, Banner District, Christmas area, Christmas, Christmas Mine (Red Bird shafts; Inspiration Mine; Hackberry shafts), Christmas open pit
 | |
| Cuprite, Kinoite, Gilalite FOV 3.5mm | © Michael D. Cline |
Cuprite
USA
Arizona, Gila Co., Globe-Miami District, Globe Hills District, Globe Hills, Burch, Pinal Creek, Original Old Dominion Mine (Keystone Mine; Keystone deposit; Keystone vein; Original Old Dominion vein)
 | |
| Cuprite coating Copper 4cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
Cuprite
USA
Arizona, Pinal Co., Dripping Spring Mts, Mineral Creek District (Ray District), Ray
 | |
| Cuprite ~2cm wide | © Michael Cline |
 | |
| Cuprite 5.5cm wide | © Michael Cline |
 | |
| Cuprite on Copper 4cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Cuprite 3.8cm tall | © Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals |
 | |
| Cuprite, micro | © Fontana Gianluca |
Cuprite
USA
Arizona, Yavapai Co., Eureka District, Bagdad
 | |
| Cuprite 1.5cm wide | © 2006 Peter Cristofono |
Cuprite
USA
Nevada, Elko Co., Mountain City District, Rio Tinto mine (Mountain City Copper mine)
 | |
| Cuprite on Copper 4.7cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Cuprite on Copper 5cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
Cuprite
USA
New Mexico, Grant Co., Santa Rita District, Santa Rita
Cuprite
USA
New Mexico, Grant Co., Santa Rita District, Santa Rita, Chino Mine (Santa Rita Pit; Santa Rita Mine)
 | |
| Cuprite & Copper 10.5cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Cuprite 3.8cm tall | © Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals |
 | |
| Cuprite on Copper 3.6cm tall | © Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals |
 | |
| Cuprite 7.4cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Cuprite 20.cm wide | © Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals |
Click here to view Best Minerals C and here for Best Minerals A to Z and here for Fast Navigation of all Best Minerals articles.
Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.
Edited 42 time(s). Last edit at 11/20/2010 05:44AM by Rock Currier.
|
|
Re: Cuprite November 28, 2010 09:02AM |
|
Hey Rock,
One other Australian locality for nice Cuprite crystals is the Great Australia Mine, Cloncurry district, Queensland, Australia.
A couple of specimens that both halves of a vug I opened some time back are;
I hope these help,
Andrew Tuma
One other Australian locality for nice Cuprite crystals is the Great Australia Mine, Cloncurry district, Queensland, Australia.
A couple of specimens that both halves of a vug I opened some time back are;
 | |
| © Andrew Tuma |
 | |
| © Andrew Tuma |
I hope these help,
Andrew Tuma
|
|
Re: Cuprite November 28, 2010 09:48PM |
|
|
Re: Cuprite September 10, 2012 11:29PM |
|
|
|
Re: Cuprite September 11, 2012 04:04AM |
|
Hi Rock, I know the photo quality does not meet the Best Minerals requirements, but it is the only photo I have seen of thise. We all know about the cuprites from ... and the copper after cuprite from the same locality. But the cuprite after copper after cuprites pieces are just amazing. Maybe someone has a better photo, this was taken at the Ste Marie Aux Mines show in bad lighting among lots of jostling.
Bob
Bob
|
Re: Cuprite September 11, 2012 09:44AM |
|
Mindat Lightbox
Mineral and Locality SearchOptions| Fade toolbar when not in focus | Fix toolbar to bottom of page | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hide Social Media Links | |||
| Slideshow frame delay | seconds | ||
