Home > Mexico I – December 15 > MS1682 Cuprite

Cuprite - Sold


Cuprite is a red oxide of copper with copper in its +1 oxidation state, in marked contrast to the blue and green minerals bearing copper in its +2 state. While known to ancients, it was Haidinger (1845) who coined its modern name, using the Latin cuprum for copper.

Bright red cuprite crystals to 1.0 cm are scattered over matrix; their habit is cuboctahedral and somewhat distorted at that. The matrix is an altered volcanic rock, with a bit of clay coating. Found 2013. The backside of the specimen has been sawn. Saw cutting of these specimens keeps these gemmy red crystals on matrix, as they tend to pop off matrix when split.