Cuprite
Cu2OIMA symbol: Cprgrandfathered
Cuprite is an oxide or hydroxide mineral with the formula Cu2O, crystallizing in the cubic system. It has a Mohs hardness of 3.5-4, typically black or red in color, with an adamantine or earthy luster, a specific gravity of 5.85-6.15. Its streak is brown or red.
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Crystallography
| Crystal system | cubic crystal systemWikidata (CC0) |
|---|---|
| Space group | P n -3 m :1 |
| Cell (Å, °) | a = 4.2685, b = 4.2685, c = 4.2685; α = 90, β = 90, γ = 90 |
| Cell volume | 77.772 ų, Z = 2 |
| Axial ratios | 1.0000:1:1.0000calculated from COD 9007497 |
| Source structure | COD 9007497 (Acta Crystallographica, Section A, 1990) — 1 of 6 structures |
Powder X-ray diffraction (calculated)
| d (Å) | 2.464 | 2.134 | 1.509 | 1.287 | 1.232 | 3.018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I/I₀ | 100 | 38.1 | 35.7 | 33 | 7.8 | 4.1 |
xrd-v1: CuKa1 1.5406A, 2theta 5-90, top10, Imax=100, no DW/PO. Computed from COD 9007497; idealized occupancies, no preferred orientation.
Physical properties
| Density (calculated) | 6.11 g/cm³calculated from COD 9007497 |
|---|---|
| Hardness (Mohs) | 3.5-4single sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892) |
| Specific gravity | 5.85-6.15 g/cm3corroboratedDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892) |
| Color | black, redsingle sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892) |
| Streak | brown, redsingle sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892) |
| Luster | adamantine, earthy, metallic, submetallicsingle sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892) |
Chemistry (calculated)
| Molecular weight | 143.09 g/molcalculated from the IMA formula |
|---|---|
| Composition (wt%) | Cu 88.82%, O 11.18% |
Classification
| Nickel-Strunz (10th) | 4.AA.10Wikidata (CC0) |
|---|---|
| Nickel-Strunz (9th) | 4.AA.10Wikidata (CC0) |
| Dana (8th) | 4.1.1.1Wikidata (CC0) |