mineral

Native Copper with Cuprite and Quartz

Copper (Cu), Cuprite (Cu2O), Quartz (SiO2)

Hardness: 2.5–3 (Copper), 3.5–4 (Cuprite), 7 (Quartz); Color: Metallic copper-red to brownish-red; Luster: Metallic; Structure: Isometric (Copper/Cuprite) and Trigonal (Quartz); Cleavage: None/Hackly fracture (Copper).

Hardness: 2
Color: Metallic copper-red to brownish-red
Luster: Metallic

Identified February 14, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed as a secondary mineral in the oxidized zones of copper deposits. This specific specimen from the Ray Mine, Arizona, formed via hydrothermal activity where copper-rich fluids interacted with surrounding silica-rich host rocks.

Uses & applications

Predominantly a highly sought-after display specimen for collectors. In mass form, copper is used for electrical wiring and plumbing, but these aesthetic specimens are preserved for their geological beauty.

Geological facts

The Ray Mine in Arizona is world-famous for producing these 'sheet' copper formations. Copper is one of the few metals that occurs in nature in directly usable metallic form, known as 'native' metal.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its heavy weight (high specific gravity), hackly texture, and the characteristic transition from metallic copper to red cuprite and white quartz. Often found in Porphyry copper deposits in Arizona and Michigan.

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