igneous
Native Copper Bearing Basalt
Cu
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 3 for copper, density 8.9 g/cm³, metallic luster, reddish-brown color with green copper secondary minerals like malachite.
Identified More igneous →
Explore Native Copper Bearing Basalt in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness of 3 for copper, density 8.9 g/cm³, metallic luster, reddish-brown color with green copper secondary minerals like malachite.
Formation & geological history
Formed through hydrothermal processes filling vesicles and fractures in ancient flood basalts, dating to the Precambrian era.
Uses & applications
Primary source of copper ore for electrical wiring and industrial manufacturing; prized by mineral collectors.
Geological facts
The Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan contains some of the largest deposits of native copper ever discovered.
Field identification & locations
Identify by heavy heft relative to size, reddish metallic specks, and green weathering crusts in dark volcanic rock.
