Cuprite
Image: Didier Descouens (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mineral NameCuprite
Chemical FormulaCu₂O
Mohs Hardness3.5
Crystal Systemcubic
Lusteradamantine
Streak Colorreddish brown
Cleavagepoor/indistinct on {111}
Fractureconchoidal
Specific Gravity6.1
Colorsdeep red, ruby red, brownish red, black
Transparencytransparent
Type LocalityDikuluwe Mine, Kolwezi, Western area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Mineral GroupOxides
Usescopper ore, collector
Associated Mineralsmalachite, native copper, azurite, chrysocolla
Rarityuncommon
Description
This specimen features sharp, lustrous, deep ruby-red to brownish-red cuprite crystals, some exhibiting adamantine reflections, embedded in a matrix partially covered with green malachite.
Geological Context
Cuprite is a secondary mineral that forms in the oxidized zone of copper sulfide deposits, typically in arid or semi-arid regions where copper-bearing solutions react with oxygen.
