Copper oxide forming distinctive red cubic crystals. Important secondary copper ore found in oxidation zones of copper deposits. Color: Dark red, ruby red. Luster: Adamantine to submetallic. Streak: Brownish-red. Cleavage: Poor. Hardness: 3.5-4. Transparency: Translucent to opaque. Crystal system: Isometric Cubic. Chemical formula: Cu₂O. Specific gravity: 5.85-6.15. Formation: Forms in the oxidized zone of copper sulfide deposits by weathering of primary copper minerals. Common geological settings: Arizona, Namibia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Chile; found in oxidized copper deposits. Common look-alikes and related entries: Cinnabar, Garnet, Realgar.
Red minerals — Place this specimen in a broader field-identification workflow.
Sources, scope & corrections
These authoritative resources support category-level nomenclature, terminology, identification methods, and safety. When a specimen-specific safety warning appears, the public-health source listed here directly supports that precaution. They are not line-by-line citations for every other property on this entry, and natural specimens vary.
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GeoMiner
Last updated
2026-03-30T14:36:57.312175+00:00
Review status
Published; not independently peer-reviewed
IMA–CNMNC List of Mineral Names — International Mineralogical Association. Official mineral-name, nomenclature, and classification records.
Mineral ID Key — Mineralogical Society of America. Physical-property identification methods, repeat-testing guidance, and limitations.
Copper oxide forming distinctive red cubic crystals. Important secondary copper ore found in oxidation zones of copper deposits.
How can you identify Cuprite?
Compare several properties rather than relying on colour alone. This entry records colour: Dark red, ruby red; lustre: Adamantine to submetallic; streak: Brownish-red; Mohs hardness: 3.5-4; cleavage: Poor; crystal system: Isometric Cubic; transparency: Translucent to opaque. Confirm an important identification with additional field tests or qualified laboratory work.
How does Cuprite form?
Forms in the oxidized zone of copper sulfide deposits by weathering of primary copper minerals.
Where is Cuprite commonly found?
Arizona, Namibia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Chile; found in oxidized copper deposits.
What is Cuprite commonly confused with?
Cuprite may be confused with Cinnabar, Garnet, Realgar. Compare multiple diagnostic properties because colour and surface appearance can overlap.
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