Cuprite

Formula:  Cu2O

Origin of name:  From Latin for copper

 

Crystal system:  Cubic

Crystal class:  4/m -3 2/m

Twinning:

Unit cell: a = 4.270 Å

 

Colour:  Red, brownish red, purplish red to almost black

Diaphaneity:

Luster:  Adamantine to earthy

Habit:  Crystals cubic, octahedral, or dodecahedral; hair-like forming wads or mats (Chalcotrichite); massive, compact, granular

Hardness:  3.5 to 4

Specific gravity:  6.14

Cleavage:  2; {111} interrupted, {001} rare

Tenacity:  Brittle

Streak:  Brownish red, shiny

 

Synonyms/varieties:  Chalcotrichite (capillary var.)

 

Comments:

 

Back to Alphabetical list Colour photos Optical properties/Thin sections SEM images TEM images vibrational spectra description IR spectra Raman spectra N-IR spectra F-IR spectra IES spectra