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Cuprite

Big Photo

Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine), Tsumeb, Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Namibia
© Peter Haas

Show Cuprite Photos (480)
Formula:
Cu
 
2
O
System:IsometricColour:Dark red to conchineal ...
Lustre:Adamantine, Sub-Metallic, EarthyHardness:3½ - 4
Name:Named in 1845 from the Latin "cuprum," in allusion to its composition.


Cuprite is commonly found as an oxidation product of copper sulphides in the upper zones of veins, often associated with Native Copper, Malachite, Azurite, Limonite and Chalcocite. A fibrous form of Cuprite is known as Chalcotrichite.

Classification of Cuprite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/A.02-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.AA.10

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
A : Metal: Oxygen = 2:1 and 1:1
A : Cation:Anion (M:O) = 2:1 (and 1.8:1)
Dana 7th edition ID:4.1.1.1
Dana 8th edition ID:4.1.1.1

4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
1 : A2X
Hey's CIM Ref.:7.3.1

7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
3 : Oxides of Cu
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Occurrences of Cuprite

Geological Setting:Found in the oxidized zones of copper deposits.

Physical Properties of Cuprite

Lustre:Adamantine, Sub-Metallic, Earthy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Dark red to conchineal red, sometimes almost black.
Streak:Shining metallic brownish-red.
Hardness (Mohs):3½ - 4
Hardness (Vickers):VHN100=183 - 222 kg/mm2
Hardness Data:Measured
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Imperfect/Fair
Interrupted on {111}, more rarely on {001}.
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):6.14 g/cm3
Density (calculated):6.15 g/cm3

Crystallography of Cuprite

Crystal System:Isometric
Class (H-M):m3m (4/m 3 2/m) - Hexoctahedral
Space Group:Pn3m (P42/n 3 2/m)
Cell Parameters:a = 4.2685Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 77.77 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Crystals octahedral or cubic, rarely dodecahedral, sometimes highly modified. In the variety "chalcotrichite" the crystals are greatly elongated [001] into capillary shapes.
Twinning:Penetration twins common.
Crystal Atlas:
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Cuprite no.1 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Cuprite no.57 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Cuprite no.80 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

About Crystal Atlas

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The mindat.org Crystal Atlas allows you to view a selection of crystal drawings of real and idealised crystal forms for this mineral and, in certain cases, 3d rotating crystal objects. You need Java to see these. You can download Java for free - click here to download Java

The 3d models and java code are kindly provided by www.smorf.nl. You can control the movement of the models by holding down the left mouse-button over the 3d model and moving your mouse. Keyboard controls are:

: default positions
t/T: decrease/increase transparency x/X: next/previous texture
b/B: next/previous background w: toggle wireframe
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X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
3.02(10)
2.47(100)
2.14(40)
1.51(30)
1.29(20)
1.23(10)
0.980(10)

Optical Data of Cuprite

Type:Isotropic
RI values: n = 2.849
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.000 - Isotropic minerals have no birefringence
Surface Relief:Very High
Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Anomalous
Colour in reflected light:Bluish white
Internal Reflections:Blood-red
Pleochroism:Visible

Chemical Properties of Cuprite

Formula:
Cu
 
2
O
Essential elements:Cu, O
All elements listed in formula:Cu, O

Relationship of Cuprite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
4.AA.05Ice
H
 
2
O
4.AA.15Paramelaconite
CuCu
 
2
O
 
3
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
7.3.2Tenorite
CuO
7.3.3Paramelaconite
CuCu
 
2
O
 
3
7.3.4Spertiniite
Cu(OH)
 
2
7.3.5Crednerite
CuMnO
 
2
7.3.6Delafossite
CuFeO
 
2
7.3.7Cuprospinel
Cu
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
O
 
4

Other Names for Cuprite

Synonyms:
Octahedral CopperOctahedral Copper OreOxydulated CopperRed CopperRed Glassy Copper Ore
RuberiteRuby Copper
French names:
Cuivre oxiduléMine de cuivre vitreuse rougeMinerai rouge de cuivreZiguéline (Synonym)
German names:
CupritHaarförmiges RotkupfererzKupferbraunKupfergewächsKupferglas
KupferlebererzKupferoxydulKupferrothLebererzkupferLeberkupfererz
Rotes KupferglasRothkupferezRotkupfererzRuberit
Latin names:
Aes caldarium rubro-fuscumCuprum tessulatum nudumvulgo Kupferglas
Russian names:
Куприт
Spanish names:
Cobre RojoCupritaRuberita
Swedish names:
Kopparglas (of Cronstedt)
Varieties:
ChalcotrichiteTile ore

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Cuprite

Reference List:Miers (1884), Phil. Magazine: 18: 127.

Bragg and Bragg (1915): 155.

Niggli (1922), Zs. Kr.: 57: 253.

Greenwood (1924), Phil. Mag.: 48: 654.

Neuburger (1931), Zs. Kr.: 77: 169.

Schroeder (1934), Centralblatt für Mineralogie: 353.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Seventh edition, Volume I: 629-631.

Gaines, Richard V., H. Catherine, W. Skinner, Eugene E. Foord, Brian Mason, Abraham Rosenzweig (1997), Dana's New Mineralogy : The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, 8th. edition: 204.

Acta Crystallographica: A46: 271-284.

Internet Links for Cuprite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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  • Cuprite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Cuprite

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