Description
Copper is a reddish colored metal with a high electrical and thermal conductivity. It has its characteristic color because it reflects red and orange light and absorbs other frequencies in the visible spectrum due to its band structure. It is in the same family as Silver and Gold and is a malleable metal. It is beautiful natural or polished.
Cuprite is a secondary mineral which forms in the oxidized zone of copper sulfide deposits. It frequently occurs in association with native copper, azurite, chrysocolla, malachite, tenorite and a variety of iron oxide minerals. It frequently forms as an encrusting reddish coating over Copper. Cuprite was first described in 1845 and the name derives from the Latin cuprum for its copper content.