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Native copper

Cuivre

MNHN N°206.192

visu_481 infos

FROM : Montroc, Tarn, France
SIZE : 18.5 x 8 x 1.1 cm

general description

This sample of native copper is associated with cuprite (red) and milky quartz. Copper is filiforme, it is oxidized in some places, where it has a green-gray color due to the copper oxide. The sample measures 18.5 x 8 x 1.1 cm.

This sample comes from the rench mine of Montroc in Tarn. The Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle could obtain this specimen thanks to support from Total.

It is kept in the storage rooms of the collections (i.e., not yet displayed to the public).

Photographie : A. Dahmane / Photo Saint-Hilaire,
© MNHN.

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The Species page

Identity card

SPECIE : Native copper

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 historian and writer

Type-locality: unknown

CHEMICAL FORMULA : Cu
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Cubic
COLOR : Pink pale to red-orange
DIAPHANIETY : Opaque
LUSTER : Metallic
STREAK : Red
MORPHOLOGY : Cubic crystals, dodecahedra, filiforms, arborescent
HARDNESS : 2,5-3,0
DENSITY : 8,93

CHEMICAL CLASS : I - Elements
GROUP : Copper
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 1/A.01-10
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 1.AA.05

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