Example of a specimen of Cuprite with copper from Russia, Altai, from the locality Rubtsovskoe. Cuprite forms gray with a bluish tinge, under bright light on the edges of dark red translucent, semi-metallic shiny, dipyramidal crystals reaching a size of up to 1,5 cm.
| Origin |
Asia
» Russia
» Altai
» Rubtsovskoe department
|
| Size category |
Miniature (4-7 cm)
|
| Size |
4,2 x 3,9 x 3,3 cm
|
| Weight |
123 g
|
| The biggest crystal |
1,5 x 1,7 x 1,5 cm
|
Cuprite
Cuprite was named in 1845 by W.K. von Haidinger after the Latin cuprum - copper. However, the mineral was known before, but under different names. Cuprite occurs as an oxidation product of copper sulfides, often with pure copper, malachite, azurite, chalkosine, limonite. It is also found in deposits of porphyry Cu ores, in sedimentary deposits or in the cavities of some volcanics. They usually form granular, fibrous, earthy to solid aggregates or form crystals in the shape of a cube, octahedron or dodecahedron. The color is brownish red, red, lead to gray, black.
