Mineral · Oxides
Cuprite
Cu2O
Cuprite is red copper oxide, forming octahedral and cubic crystals at Tsumeb, Chessy, Bisbee and Mashamba West (Congo), and hair-like chalcotrichite at Ray, Arizona. Deep red transparent Tsumeb and Congo cuprite octahedra are highly valued; the surface often dulls with a coating of malachite. Faceted cuprite is a collector's gem too soft for wear.
| Formula | Cu2O |
|---|---|
| IMA status | grandfathered |
| Crystal system | Cubic |
| Mohs hardness | 3.5–4 |
| Group | Oxides |
| Type locality | None |
| Streak | Brownish red |
| Specific gravity | 6.1 |
| Reference list | IMA List of Minerals (RRUFF) — verify formula and status against the current list |
Elsewhere
Cite this article
Stratum Study. "Cuprite" (Mineral). Stratum Study pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-19. https://stratum.black/study/minerals/cuprite. Accessed 2026-09-20.
@misc{stratum-cuprite,
title = {Cuprite},
author = {{Stratum Study}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/study/minerals/cuprite}},
year = {2026},
note = {Mineral article, Stratum Study pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-19; sources: stratum, wikidata, commons. Accessed 2026-09-20.}
} Citations carry the pack version and the article's as-of date so they resolve to the same text later. The facts themselves belong to the sources listed below; cite those for the science.