Cuprite

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Cuprite

Mineral Species: Cuprite

Chemical Formula: Cu2O

Chemical Name: Copper Oxide

Mineral Class: Oxide

Mineral Notes: Cuprite typically occurs in upper oxidised parts of Copper deposits, usually found with native Copper and other secondary minerals including Malachite and Azurite. It has a relatively simple crystal structre with the Copper ion between two Oxygen ions, and every Oxygen is tetrahedrally coordinated with four Copper ions. It is a very minor ore of Copper.

Description: A small matrix of brown matrix rock covered by several crusts of green Cuprite. These are thin and fairly amorphous but in several places tiny, dark-green crystals with good form can be seen. A hand lens shows that there ar one or two tiny crystal of native copper also present.

Location: Wheal Kitty, Cornwall, England.

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