Mineralpedia Details for Cuprite

Named from the Latin word for “copper,” cuprum, in reference to the mineral’s copper content. Cuprite is a common mineral that occurs widespread and in many localities worldwide. Fine specimens can be found from localities in Russia, Kazakhstan, England, Germany, Namibia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United States, Chile, Mexico, and Australia. Cuprite occurs commonly in oxidized copper deposits.

Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/cuprite.pdf

Formula

Cu¹⁺₂O 

Crystal System

Isometric 

Crystal Habit

Massive - Granular, Capillary 

Cleavage

Imperfect, None, None 

Luster

Adamantine 

Color

brown red, purple red, red, black 

Streak

brownish red 

Class

Isometric - Hexoctahedral 

Fracture

Brittle - Conchoidal 

Hardness

3.5-4 

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Unusual "balls", perhaps limonitic replacements of something which are totally covered by micro crystals of Cuprite to less than 0.2mm.

Deep red 1-2mm octahedral crystals all over matrix. 

A good representative specimen showing a solid vein of deep red Cuprite to 1.5cm in Chrysocalloa matrix with minor Malachite. The Ghostcroft mine is known for having the largest known specimen of Copper from England. It is said to be named for the flickering miners' candles seen at night by the locals. (Embrey). Though it was a source of copper it was sporadic.

Red acicular Chalcotrichite crystals to 1mm.

Deep red Cuprite as scales and cubic crystals to 5mm.

Fine, fiery reddish orange, matted Cuprite, variety chalcotrichite covering much of all faces. U

Deep red cubo-octahedral crystals of Cuprite to 2mm. As always in digital photography, the red in the Cuprite is always accentuated, which is not intentional on our part. It just happens. In other words, the red is darker in person, but the crystals are superb. See old Lythe label under provenance.

Superb cherry red Cuprite crystals to 4mm and smaller on Calcite matrix with minor native Copper. Excellent matrix specimen.

Two excellent bundles os fibrous Cuprite.

Deep red acicular crystals in bundles and patches to 4mm.

This specimen has beautiful octahedral red Cuprite micro crystals to about 1mm sprinkled with good coverage on platy blue Kinoite. Excellent specimen.

Octahedral crystals from 1 to 5mm.

Dark red micro Cuprite crystals throughout mass. Darker red than photos depict!

An interesting specimen with a lot going on. There is a large 2.5cm Tetrahedrite crystal coated with bright ren Cuprite. There is also brown acicular groups of Pyromorphite on the needle Quartz. And finally there are two Japan law twinned Quartz crystals, one of which is shown. 

Bright cherry red acicular chalcotrichite, a variety of Cuprite. The matrix is all Cuprite.

Octahedral crystals of Cuprite to 1cm. The color in-hand is a almost a black but show a deep red in transmitted light.