Mineral 1.0Test your knowledge of specific minerals

M
E
N
U
« Home | Browse Minerals | QuizzesMinerals by letter: All | K | G | O | A | H | T | P | C | Q | N | Z | S | E | W | M | B | F | D | L
Minerals by class: Silicates | Halides | Carbonates | Sulfates | Oxides | Phosphates | Hydroxides | Native elements | Sulfides
Silicate Subclasses: Nesosilicates | Pyroxenes | Amphiboles | Frameworks | Sorosilicates | Cyclosilicates | Phyllosilicates
  

« Back to mineral listing

C
O
P
P
E
R

Click for expanded view






(c) Mineral Picture courtesy of www.yuprocks.com
Mineral Picture courtesy of www.yuprocks.com

CopperCu

Class: Native element
Hardness: 2.5 - 3
Density: 8.9
Streak: Same
Lustre: Metallic
Habit: Massive, platey or dendritic habit.
Colours: Light rose on fresh surface, copper-red on tarnished surface

  Crystal System: Isometric
Cleavage: None
Fracture: Hackly
Magnetism: None
Reaction with HCl: Weak

Identification in hand sample:
Colour and metallic characteristics are diagnostic.

Associations:
Found associated with mafic volcanic rocks, formed by reaction between Cu-bearing solutions and Fe-bearing minerals. Associated minerals are cuprite, chalcocite, bornite, epidote, calcite, chlorite and zeolites.

Industrial / ecomonic uses:
Used as electrical wire due to electrical conductivity and relatively low price.

Comments:
Obviously a source of copper, however most copper in modern times is mined from sulfide minerals.

  

Inaccurate data? Better photos? .