Specimens Cuprite has been a major ore of copper and is still mined in many places around the world. Of all the copper ores except for native copper, cuprite gives the greatest yield of copper per molecule since there is only one oxygen atom to every two copper atoms. As a mineral specimen, cuprite shows fine examples of well-developed cubic crystal forms. Cuprite's dark crystals show internal reflections of the true deep red inside the almost black crystal. Other varieties, such as chalcotrichite, show tufts of needle-like crystals that have a beautiful red color and a special sparkle that make them popular display cabinet specimens.
Color is red to a deep red that can appear almost black.
Luster is adamantine or submetallic to dull or earthy if massive. Crystals are transparent to translucent. Crystal Habits include the cube, octahedron, dodecahedron, and combinations of these forms. Some display faces of the obscure gyroid form. A variety known as Chalcotrichite forms long needle-like crystals or fuzzy crusts.