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Download hereGENERAL DESCRIPTION
Native copper is one of rare metals has to be in a native state (pure or almost) in nature. It is form in the porous zones of the mafic rocks. It can be also formed by precipitation at the base of the oxidized zones of the copper deposits, where the ground water stagnates.
It is associated other minerals like cuprite, bornite or various copper carbonates (malachite, azurite) which are formed from the oxidation of this copper.
This metal can be presented in the form of cubic crystals, but generally it is massive and takes an arborescent form. It is pink-orange in colour with a metallic lustre. It becomes greenish under the effect of oxidation. It is a malleable and conducting metal.
Native copper is rather widespread in certain copper mines: there are many deposits in Michigan and the mines of the district of Bisbee in Arizona. In France, it is present in many localities: one will quote the district of Brioude/Massiac in Auvergne, the mine of Sainte-Lucie in Lozère, Saint-Véran in the Hautes-Alpes and the mine of Chessy-les-mines in the Rhône to quote only some deposits.
The place of conservation of the type of this species is not known.
Did you know? Copper was used to manufacture objects (points of harpoons, arrows, jewels...). It is one of the first metals has to be used since one discovered objects coppers, some dated as old as 8700 before JC. It was also very used during the age of bronze (copper-tin alloy), towards -4000 to -1000 BC. It is widely used nowadays in thermal drivers and to manufacture alloys such as brass (copper-zinc alloy).
HISTORY : Name inspired from the Greek word "cuprum" [kyprios], Cyprus Island where copper was mined during the Antiquity
Species first described in 77 by Caius Plinius Secundus (23-79 AC), Roman naturalist
Type-locality: unknown
CHEMICAL FORMULA : Cu
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Cubic
COLOR : Pink pale to red-orange
DIAPHANIETY : Opaque
LUSTER : Metallic
STREAK : Red
MORPHOLOGIE : Cubic crystals, dodecahedra, filiforms, arborescent
HARDNESS : 2,5-3,0
CHEMICAL CLASS: 8,93
DENSITY : I - Elements
GROUP : Copper
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 1/A.01-10
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 1.AA.05
