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Cuprite


Credit: United States Geological Survey and the Mineral Information Institute
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Cuprite is a mineral composed of copper(I) oxide Cu2O, and is an important ore of copper.

Its dark crystals with red internal reflections are in the isometric system, appearing as cubic, octahedral, or dodecahedral forms, or in combinations, with a deep red color. In spite of its nice color it is rarely used for jewelry because of its low hardness of 3.5 -4.



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