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cuprite
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cuprite crystals from Morocco
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crystal of oxidized cuprite in malachite from Chessy in France
Detailed sheet
cuprite
Its name comes from the Latin “Cuprum” which means copper, it was discovered by von Haidinger in 1845.
The chaloctrichite is a form that looks like thin hair hence the name derived from Greek (copper hair).
There are massive varieties mixed with chrysocolla and tenorite coming from the region of Sonora in Mexico, they are called “Sonora Sunrise” or “Sonora Sunrise Chrysocolla”.
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CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Cu2O
copper oxide mineral
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PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Main color
red
blood red
Color of streak
brown, red
Luster
adamantine
Hardness
3.5 to 4.0
Density
5.82 to 6.15
Cleavage
indistinct
Fracture
conchoidal, uneven
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OPTICAL PROPERTIES
Transparency
opaque, translucent, transparent
Refractive index
2.850 - 0.000
Double refraction
0.000
none, isotropic
visible double refraction
No
Pleochroism
absent
Number of colors
1
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cuprite spectrum system
Fluorescence
none
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CRYSTALS PROPERTIES
octahedral and rhombododécaèdral well shaped, fibrous because of chalcotrichite
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crystals system
cubic
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OTHER INFORMATIONS
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APPROACHING GEMS
Exploited
sites
It is found in copper deposits: in France (Chessy-les-Mines, Salsigne), Zaire, Namibia, Algeria, China, in the Urals in Russia, Spain, Mexico, the United States.
use in jewelry
Exclusively a collection stone, rare and sought in its gem quality.
Venez visitez
notre site web
voillot-joaillier.fr
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