Cuprite is a supergene mineral of the copper zones of oxidation, which does not form large accumulations. In the best samples, it may have a so-called reflex - it turns red in bright light.
You can see cuprite stone for sale and buy it in the Minerals of Russia online store.
General | |
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Category | Oxide mineral |
Formula (repeating unit) |
Cu2O |
IMA symbol | Cpr |
Strunz classification | 4.AA.10 |
Dana classification | 4.1.1.1 |
Crystal system | Cubic |
Crystal class | Hexoctahedral (m3m) H-M symbol: (4/m 3 2/m) |
Space group | Pn3m |
Unit cell | a = 4.2685 Å; V = 77.77 Å3; Z = 2 |
Identification | |
Color | Dark red to conchineal red, sometimes almost black |
Crystal habit | Cubic, octahedral, and dodecahedral crystals; as hairlike capillary forms, earthy, compact granular and massive |
Twinning | Penetration twins |
Cleavage | Fair in four directions forming octahedrons |
Fracture | Conchoidal to uneven |
Tenacity | Brittle |
Mohs scale hardness | 3.5 to 4 |
Luster | Adamantine, sub-metallic, earthy |
Streak | Shining metallic brownish-red |
Diaphaneity | Transparent, translucent |
Specific gravity | 6.14 |
Optical properties | Isotropic |
Refractive index | n = 2.849 |
Pleochroism | Visible |