Cochise College          Photos of Minerals

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                          Roger Weller, geology instructor

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                                  copyright 2006-R.Weller
 

Mineral Information on:
cuprite

Chemical Group:    oxide

Chemical Formula:    Cu₂O

Color:   red, nearly black                     Streak:  brownish red

Luster:  adamantine to submetallic; may also be earthy

Hardness:  3.5 t0 4        Specific Gravity:  6.10  

Fracture:  conchoidal     Tenacity:  brittle

Cleavage:  (111) weak

Crystal Forms:  Isometric system
     Crystals are usually octahedrons, but may also be cubes or dodecahedrons.
     An acicular form (needle-like) is called chalcotrichite.

Mineral Associations:  malachite, azurite, tenorite, copper, iron oxides

Identifying Characteristics:  softer than hematite, harder than cinnabar

Uses:  copper ore

Occurrences:  found in oxidized zones of copper deposits

Toxicity:      when-swallowed- moderate         when inhaled- moderate

Additional Information:  Cuprite can be replaced as a malachite pseudomorph.