Log InRegister
Quick Links : The Mindat ManualThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryMindat Newsletter [Free Download]
Home PageAbout MindatThe Mindat ManualHistory of MindatCopyright StatusWho We AreContact UsAdvertise on Mindat
Donate to MindatCorporate SponsorshipSponsor a PageSponsored PagesMindat AdvertisersAdvertise on Mindat
Learning CenterWhat is a mineral?The most common minerals on earthInformation for EducatorsMindat ArticlesThe ElementsThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryGeologic Time
Minerals by PropertiesMinerals by ChemistryAdvanced Locality SearchRandom MineralRandom LocalitySearch by minIDLocalities Near MeSearch ArticlesSearch GlossaryMore Search Options
Search For:
Mineral Name:
Locality Name:
Keyword(s):
 
The Mindat ManualAdd a New PhotoRate PhotosLocality Edit ReportCoordinate Completion ReportAdd Glossary Item
Mining CompaniesStatisticsUsersMineral MuseumsClubs & OrganizationsMineral Shows & EventsThe Mindat DirectoryDevice SettingsThe Mineral Quiz
Photo SearchPhoto GalleriesSearch by ColorNew Photos TodayNew Photos YesterdayMembers' Photo GalleriesPast Photo of the Day GalleryPhotography

Cuprite

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
This page kindly sponsored by Chris Whitney-Smith
Hide all sections | Show all sections

About CupriteHide

Formula:
Cu2O
Colour:
Dark red to cochineal red, sometimes almost black.
Lustre:
Adamantine, Sub-Metallic, Earthy
Hardness:
3½ - 4
Specific Gravity:
6.14
Crystal System:
Isometric
Name:
Named in 1845 by Wilhelm Karl von Haidinger from the Latin "cuprum," in allusion to its composition. Haidinger renamed a previously known mineral that had been known by a wide variety of names.
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.




Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
1172
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1172:9
GUID
(UUID V4):
e117292b-c8f5-4a14-9be1-dfdc401345c9

IMA Classification of CupriteHide

Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)

Classification of CupriteHide

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 ed.:
4.1.1.1
4.1.1.1

4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
1 : A2X
7.3.1

7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
3 : Oxides of Cu

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.

SymbolSourceReference
CprIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43
CprWhitney & Evans (2010)Whitney, D.L. and Evans, B.W. (2010) Abbreviations for names of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 95, 185–187 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3371
CupThe Canadian Mineralogist (2019)The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download

Pronunciation of CupriteHide

Pronunciation:
PlayRecorded byCountry
Jolyon RalphUnited Kingdom

Physical Properties of CupriteHide

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

Optical Data of CupriteHide

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

Chemistry of CupriteHide

Mindat Formula:
Cu2O
CAS Registry number:
1317-39-1

CAS Registry numbers are published by the American Chemical Society

Crystallography of CupriteHide

Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
m3m (4/m 3 2/m) - Hexoctahedral
Space Group:
Pn3m
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.2685 Å
Unit Cell 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.

Crystallographic forms of CupriteHide

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)
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by www.smorf.nl.

Toggle
Edge Lines | Miller Indices | Axes

Transparency
Opaque | Translucent | Transparent

View
Along a-axis | Along b-axis | Along c-axis | Start rotation | Stop rotation

Crystal StructureHide

Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File    Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0007351CupriteHafner S S, Nagel S (1983) The electric field gradient at the position of copper in Cu2O and electronic charge density analysis by means of K-factors Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 9 19-2219830293
0009326CupriteKirfel A, Eichhorn K (1990) Accurate structure analysis with synchrotron radiation. The electron density in Al2O3 and Cu2O They have been fixed in this dataset. Acta Crystallographica A46 271-2841990synthetic0293
0017662CupriteNiggli P (1922) Die Kristallstruktur einiger Oxyde I. _cod_database_code 1010941 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 57 253-29919220293
0017890CupriteYamaguti T (1938) An investigation on oxidation of crystal surfaces with electron diffraction method, II.- copper single crystals _cod_database_code 1010963 Proceedings of the Physico-Mathematical Society of Japan 20 230-24119380293
0015851CupriteNeuburger M (1930) Praezisionsmessung der Gitterkonstante von Cuprooxyd Cu2O _cod_database_code 1000063 Zeitschrift fur Physik 67 845-85019300293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
3.02 Å(10)
2.47 Å(100)
2.14 Å(40)
1.51 Å(30)
1.29 Å(20)
1.23 Å(10)
0.980 Å(10)
0.955 Å(10)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event<2.4
45b : [Other oxidized fumarolic minerals]
47h : [Near-surface oxidized, dehydrated minerals]
Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere<0.6
50 : Coal and/or oil shale minerals<0.36
Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals<10 Ka
54 : Coal and other mine fire minerals (see also #51 and #56)
Geological Setting:
Found in the oxidised zones of copper deposits.

Synonyms of CupriteHide

Other Language Names for CupriteHide

Varieties of CupriteHide

ChalcotrichiteA variety of Cuprite consisting of thin fibrous sprays or mats of hair-like crystals.
Tile oreA brick-red massive variety of Cuprite, usually found with Malachite or other secondary copper minerals (eg. Atacamite)

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
1,845 photos of Cuprite associated with CopperCu
1,582 photos of Cuprite associated with MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
451 photos of Cuprite associated with ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
326 photos of Cuprite associated with CalciteCaCO3
263 photos of Cuprite associated with QuartzSiO2
249 photos of Cuprite associated with AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
176 photos of Cuprite associated with Goethiteα-Fe3+O(OH)
174 photos of Cuprite associated with ConnelliteCu19(SO4)(OH)32Cl4 · 3H2O
153 photos of Cuprite associated with SilverAg
133 photos of Cuprite associated with ChalcotrichiteCu2O

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

4.AA.05IceH2OHex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc
4.AA.10Cubo-iceH2OIso.
4.AA.15ParamelaconiteCu1+2Cu2+2O3Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I41/amd

Other InformationHide

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

Cuprite in petrologyHide

An essential component of rock names highlighted in red, an accessory component in rock names highlighted in green.

Internet Links for CupriteHide

References for CupriteHide

Reference List:

Localities for CupriteHide

This 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.

Locality ListShow

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
 
Mineral and/or Locality  
Mindat Discussions Facebook Logo Instagram Logo Discord Logo
Mindat.org is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2024, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: April 24, 2024 00:34:12 Page updated: April 23, 2024 01:07:29
Go to top of page