Copper Minerals - Cuprite

Cuprite mineral specimens

Cu2O
Specimen from Graham AZ University of Cincinnati Mineral Collection
(Click images to enlarge)
cuprite AZ Cuprite2
Cuprite SEM Cuprite 400x
SEM, scanning mode (FEI XL 30 ESEM) [additional SEM images] Transmitted light photomicrograph (Keyence VHX 600E)

Mineral Properties

Crystal System

Specific gravity

Hardness

Color

Isometric

6.14 g/cm3

3½ - 4

Dark red to cochineal red

Composition

Formula weight = 143.10 g/mole

 

Cu

88.82 %

 

 

 

O

11.18

    

 

Web resources:

http://webmineral.com

http://www.mindat.org/

 

Cuprite in water distribution systems
cuprite malachite cuprite sem
Utility 14 - brown cuprite formaing an even scale, overlain by discrete islands of malachite spheres Utility 3 - SEM image of cuprite. Each crystal is about 1/2 micron

All images copyright JB Maynard 2010. Free use with attribution.