the.com/cuprite
the gemstone that hides its blood-red fire inside a dull metallic crust
means Cuprite is a copper-oxide mineral (copper(I) oxide) prized as both an ore of copper and, in clear crystals, a deep red gemstone.
from From Latin cuprum, "copper," the same root that gives us the element's symbol Cu — and cuprum itself traces back to aes Cyprium, "metal of Cyprus," the island whose ancient mines supplied so much of the Roman world's copper. The mineral name took the standard -ite suffix used for rocks and minerals, naming it plainly for the copper it carries.
- chemistry
- Copper oxide, an ore mineral of pure copper
- hidden color
- Crystals look gray-black but glow deep crimson inside
- rare cut
- Faceted gems are too soft to wear safely
- high refraction
- Sparkles brighter than diamond when cut
- variety
- Hair-thin fibrous form is called chalcotrichite
morenci mine arizona — major copper mine in arizona producing significant cuprite ore deposits
atacama desert chile — world's largest copper-producing region with extensive cuprite mineralization
bisbee arizona historic — famous mining town with cuprite as a notable copper oxide mineral in ore