mineral
Native Copper in Basalt
Cu (Native Copper) in Mafic Igneous Rock
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 3 (copper), color metallic pinkish-orange with dark green host rock, metallic luster, cubic crystal system.
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Physical properties
Hardness 3 (copper), color metallic pinkish-orange with dark green host rock, metallic luster, cubic crystal system.
Formation & geological history
Formed via hydrothermal precipitation in the cavities and vesicles of basaltic lava flows.
Uses & applications
Valued by mineral collectors and used historically as a major ore source of copper metal.
Geological facts
Famous for large commercial deposits in the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan, USA.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive metallic coppery patches embedded within dark volcanic rock; found globally in ancient rift zones.
