Cuprite

Copper oxide forming deep red cubes and octahedrons, sometimes as hair-like 'chalcotrichite'.

Cuprite specimen — Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How to identify cuprite

Deep red, glinting crystals that can look almost black.
Heavy.
Brownish-red streak.

Often confused with

Cinnabar
Cinnabar is softer with a scarlet streak.
Compare side by side
Hematite
Hematite is harder and not as red inside.
Compare side by side

Where it's found

Onganja, Namibia
Bisbee, Arizona
Chessy, France
Cornwall, England

Uses

Copper ore and collector specimens.

Rock tumbling

Not suitable for tumbling.

Did you know?

Large cuprite crystals from Onganja, Namibia, can reach several centimeters.

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