Cuprite
Cuprite is a copper oxide secondary mineral used as an ore of copper. It typically forms in copper sulfide deposits, along with azurite, chrysocolla, and malachite.
Information about Cuprite
Appearance
A copper oxide mineral occurring in a range of colours from a scarlet red to dark red – almost black.
Uses and History
A minor ore of copper, and very infrequently used for faceted stones. Popular amongst mineral collectors.
Named in 1845 by Wilhelm Karl von Haidinger from the Latin word ‘cuprum’, due to its composition.
Sometimes known as ruby copper due to its colours.
Mineralogy
Scarlet to dark red, sometimes almost black.
Hazards and Warnings
Mineral collectors should wash their hands after handling specimens, to avoid any exposure to potential toxins.
Almost all rocks, minerals (and, frankly, almost all other substances on earth) can produce toxic dust when cutting, which can cause serious respiratory conditions including silicosis. When cutting or polishing rocks, minerals, shells, etc, all work should be done wet to minimise the dust, and a suitable respirator or extraction system should be used.
Translations
Arabic:
Hindi:
Portuguese:
- Cuprita
Bengali:
Indonesian:
Punjabi:
English:
- Cuprite
Italian:
Russian:
- Куприт
French:
Japanese:
- キュプライト
Spanish:
- Cuprita
German:
- Cuprit
Korean:
Thai:
Gujurati:
Mandarin Chinese:
- 赤铜矿
Urdu:
Further Reading / External Links
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuprite
- https://www.mindat.org/min-1172.html
- https://www.minerals.net/mineral/cuprite.aspx
- http://webmineral.com/data/Cuprite.shtml