page_title: Cuprite
hierarchical_section_title: Cuprite
caption_attribution_description: English: Cuprite Locality: Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine), Tsumeb, Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Namibia (Locality at mindat.org) A sharp, SUPER GEMMY, deep cherry-red cuprite crystal from Tsumeb. NOT OFTEN, does a Tsumeb cuprite of this QUALITY come on any market, even though the piece has one repair. This piece is NOT backlit. It really is that gemmy. Ed Ruggiero bought this beauty from Miriam and Julius Zweibel of Mineral Kingdom in the heyday of Tsumeb in September, 1977. 2.3 x 2.1 x 1.2 cm Deutsch: Cuprit Fundort: Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine), Tsumeb, Otjikoto Region, Namibia (Fundort bei mindat.org)
context_page_description: Cuprite is an oxide mineral composed of copper(I) oxide Cu₂O, and is a minor ore of copper.
  Its dark crystals with red internal reflections are in the isometric system hexoctahedral class, appearing as cubic, octahedral, or dodecahedral forms, or in combinations. Penetration twins frequently occur. In spite of its nice color it is rarely used for jewelry because of its low Mohs hardness of 3.5 to 4. It has a relatively high specific gravity of 6.1, imperfect cleavage and is brittle to conchoidal fracture. The luster is sub-metallic to brilliant adamantine. The "chalcotrichite" variety typically shows greatly elongated capillary or needle like crystals forms.
  It is a secondary mineral which forms in the oxidized zone of copper sulfide deposits. It frequently occurs in association with native copper, azurite, chrysocolla, malachite, tenorite and a variety of iron oxide minerals. It is known as ruby copper due to its distinctive red color.
  Cuprite was first described by Wilhelm Karl Ritter von Haidinger in 1845 and the name derives from the Latin cuprum for its copper content.
context_section_description: Cuprite is an oxide mineral composed of copper(I) oxide Cu₂O, and is a minor ore of copper.
  Its dark crystals with red internal reflections are in the isometric system hexoctahedral class, appearing as cubic, octahedral, or dodecahedral forms, or in combinations. Penetration twins frequently occur. In spite of its nice color it is rarely used for jewelry because of its low Mohs hardness of 3.5 to 4. It has a relatively high specific gravity of 6.1, imperfect cleavage and is brittle to conchoidal fracture. The luster is sub-metallic to brilliant adamantine. The "chalcotrichite" (from Ancient Greek: χαλκός θρίξ τριχός, "plush copper ore") variety typically shows greatly elongated (parallel to [001]) capillary or needle like  crystals forms.
  It is a secondary mineral which forms in the oxidized zone of copper sulfide deposits. It frequently occurs in association with native copper, azurite, chrysocolla, malachite, tenorite and a variety of iron oxide minerals. It is known as ruby copper due to its distinctive red color.
  Cuprite was first described by Wilhelm Karl Ritter von Haidinger in 1845 and the name derives from the Latin cuprum for its copper content.
  Cuprite is found in the Ural Mountains, Altai Mountains, and Sardinia, and in more isolated locations in Cornwall, France, Arizona, Chile, Bolivia, and Namibia.
caption: Cuprite from Tsumeb Mine (size:2.3 x 2.1 x 1.2 cm
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