Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Messageboard The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Mineral Chatroom The Mindat Store

Cuprite

Sponsorship for this page has expired!
Big Photo

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

Show Cuprite Photos (1564)



Formula:
Cu
 
2
O
System:IsometricColour:Dark red to cochineal ...
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.

Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Cuprite. Currently in public beta-test.

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
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-1172.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Occurrences of Cuprite

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

Physical Properties of Cuprite

Lustre:Adamantine, Sub-Metallic, Earthy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Dark red to cochineal 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:
Image Loading
Click on an icon to view
Cuprite no.1 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Cuprite no.57 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Cuprite no.80 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

About Crystal Atlas

You may need to scroll this box using your mouse to view the full instructions.

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
s: toggle sticks m: toggle miller indices
k: toggle crystallographic axes =/-: zoom in/out
r: stop/start rotation 1/2/3
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data:
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)
0.955(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
CAS Registry number:1317-39-1

CAS Registry numbers are published by the American Chemical Society

Relationship of Cuprite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
4.AA.05Ice
H
 
2
O
4.AA.15Paramelaconite
Cu
 
2
Cu
 
2
O
 
3
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
7.3.2Tenorite
CuO
7.3.3Paramelaconite
Cu
 
2
Cu
 
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
Other Languages:
Catalan:Cuprita
Dutch:Cupriet
Estonian:Kupriit
French:Cuivre oxidulé
Mine de cuivre vitreuse rouge
Minerai rouge de cuivre
Ziguéline (Synonym)
German:Cuprit
Haarförmiges Rotkupfererz
Kupferbraun
Kupfergewächs
Kupferglas
Kupferlebererz
Kupferoxydul
Kupferroth
Lebererzkupfer
Leberkupfererz
Rotes Kupferglas
Rothkupferez
Rotkupfererz
Ruberit
Hebrew:קופריט
Hungarian:Kuprit
Italian:Cuprite
Japanese:赤銅鉱
Latin:Aes caldarium rubro-fuscum
Cuprum tessulatum nudum
vulgo Kupferglas
Lithuanian:Kupritas
Polish:Kupryt
Portuguese:Cuprita
Russian:Куприт
Simplified Chinese:赤铜矿
红铜矿
Slovak:Kuprit
Spanish:Cuprita
Cobre Rojo
Ruberita
Swedish: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.
External LinksSearch for toxicity information at the United States National Library of Medicine

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, Vandall T. King (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.

Best Localities for Cuprite

Best of Species:Cuprite

Internet Links for Cuprite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Cuprite on Google
  • Look for Cuprite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Cuprite on Webmineral
  • Look for Cuprite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Cuprite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Cuprite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Cuprite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Fine and rare minerals from mintreasure.com
  • Search for - Cuprite - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
  • DAKOTA MATRIX offers Cabinet and Rare Species from Worldwide Localities.
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • SpiriferMinerals.com - high quality low prices
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • Cuprite specimens for sale - minfind.com
  • webminerals
  • Fine Minerals from Weinrich Minerals, Inc.
  • Search for minerals at Heliodor
    • Specimens:The following Cuprite specimens are currently listed for sale on minfind.com.
    Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Localities for Cuprite

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    Show Locality List (2706 Items)
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Search Google
     
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2013. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them. Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
    Current server date and time: 25th May 2013 01:03:10
    Mineral and Locality Search
    Mineral:
    and/or Locality:
    Options
    Fade toolbar when not in focusFix toolbar to bottom of page
    Hide Social Media Links
    Slideshow frame delay seconds
    New Locality Added: Žulový vrch, Vápenná (Setzdorf), Jeseník, Olomouc Region, Moravia (Mähren; Maehren), Czech RepublicFrom Filip Kopecký, 25th May 2013 15:06:31