Cuprite Mineral Data

Cuprite Mineral Data +

General Cuprite Information

Chemical Formula:

Cu2O

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 143.09 gm

Copper 88.82 % Cu 100.00 % Cu₂O

Oxygen 11.18 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Cu₂O

Environment:

Oxidized zone of copper deposits.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1845

Locality:

Commonly in the copper deposits of SW USA and in Chile. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

From the Latin, cuprum, meaning copper. Chalcotrichite from the Greek, meaning "hairy copper."

Synonym:

Chalcotrichite

ICSD 63281

PDF 5-667

Red oxide of copper

Cuprite Image

Images:

Cuprite

Comments: Dark red ball or sphere of cuprite crystals set on a pearly white dolomite crystal matrix.
Location: Tsumeb mine, Tsumeb, Namibia. Scale: 5 x 2.5 x 4 cm.
© Dan Weinrich

Images:

Cuprite Chrysocolla

Comments: Semi-metallic, dark reddish gray, cuprite crystals on blue chrysocolla.
Location: Mashamba West mine, Shaba, Congo. Scale: 7.5 x 4.7 x 2.3 cm.
© Fabre Minerals

Images:

Cuprite

Comments: Red, acicular chalcotrichite crystals as a fine, fibrous red mass on matrix.
Location: Christmas mine, Gila Co., Arizona, USA. Scale: Picture size 5 mm.
© Tom Loomis / Dakota Matrix

Cuprite Crystallography

Cell Dimensions:

a = 4.2696, Z = 2; V = 77.83 Den(Calc)= 6.11

Crystal System:

Isometric - HexoctahedralH-M Symbol (4/m 3 2/m) Space Group: P n3m

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 2.465(1), 2.135(0.37), 1.51(0.27),

Crystal Structure:

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Hafner S S , Nagel S , Physics and Chemistry of Minerals , 9 (1983) p.19-22, The electric field gradient at the position of copper in, Cu2O and electronic charge density analysis by means of K-factors

View Additional jPOWD Structure files for Cuprite
[1]

Physical Properties of Cuprite

Cleavage:

[111] Imperfect

Color:

Brown red, Purple red, Red, Black.

Density:

6.1

Diaphaniety:

Transparent to translucent

Fracture:

Brittle - Conchoidal - Very brittle fracture producing small, conchoidal fragments.

Habit:

Capillary - Very slender and long, like a thread or hair (e.g. millerite).

Habit:

Massive - Granular - Common texture observed in granite and other igneous rock.

Hardness:

3.5-4 - Copper Penny-Fluorite

Luminescence:

None.

Luster:

Adamantine

Magnetism:

Nonmagnetic

Streak:

brownish red

Optical Properties of Cuprite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.296 (Poor) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.294 (Poor) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.3028,KPDmeas= 0.3033,KC= 0.234

Optical Data:

Isotropic, n=2.85.

RL Color:

Gray blue with internal red reflections.

RL Pleochroism:

Anomalous.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Cuprite in Air**
λ	R	∑ R(λ)
400 nm	32.10
420 nm	32.20
440 nm	32.30
460 nm	31.70
480 nm	30.40
500 nm	28.80
520 nm	27.50
540 nm	26.30
560 nm	25.50
580 nm	24.80
600 nm	24.40
620 nm	23.90
640 nm	23.60
660 nm	23.40
680 nm	23.20
700 nm	23.10

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Cuprite in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	40%	80%	100%	120%	160%	200%	240%	280%	320%	360%
R

Calculated Properties of Cuprite

Electron Density:

r_electron=5.64 gm/cc
note: r_Cuprite=6.11 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.00005
Boson Index = 0.99995

Photoelectric:

PE_Cuprite= 40.46 barns/electron
U=PE_Cuprite x r_electron= 228.05 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Cuprite is Not Radioactive

Cuprite Classification

Dana Class:

4.1.1.1 (4)Simple Oxides

(4.1)with a cation charge of 1+ (A+2 O)

(4.1.1)Dana Group

4.1.1.1 Cuprite Cu2O P n3m 4/m 3 2/m

Strunz Class:

IV/A.02-10 IV - Oxides

IV/A - Oxides with metal : oxygen = 1:1 and 2:1 (M2O,MO)

IV/A.02 - Cuprite series

IV/A.02-10 Cuprite Cu2O P n3m 4/m 3 2/m

Other Cuprite Information

References:

NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic3)

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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Cuprite Specimen Label here :

Cuprite

Cu2O
Dana No: 4.1.1.1 Strunz No: IV/A.02-10
Locality:

Notes: