DOCUMENTATION_FORMAT: MINERAL
SAMPLE_ID: HS127.2B, HS127.3B, HS127.4B
MINERAL_TYPE: Oxide
MINERAL: Cuprite
FORMULA: Cu2O
FORMULA_HTML: Cu2O
COLLECTION_LOCALITY: Butte, Montana
ORIGINAL_DONOR: Hunt and Salisbury Collection
CURRENT_SAMPLE_LOCATION: USGS Denver Spectroscopy Laboratory
ULTIMATE_SAMPLE_LOCATION: USGS Denver Spectroscopy Laboratory
SAMPLE_DESCRIPTION:
This is a relatively pure cuprite sample (analysis indicate 0.008% by weight Fe). Transition of the cupric ion in the cuprite crystal field results in absorption feature at 0.85µm.
Hunt, G.R., J.W. Salisbury, and C.J. Lenhoff, 1971, Visible and near-infrared spectra of minerals and rocks: III. Oxides and hydroxides. Mod. Geol., 2, pp. 195-205.
Grain size fractions are indicated by the extension after the sample number:
.2B = <74 µm
.3B = 74-250 µm
.4B = 250-1200 µm
END_SAMPLE_DESCRIPTION.
XRD_ANALYSIS:
40 kV - 30 mA, 6.5-9.5 keV
File: cupr127_mdi (smear mount on quartz plate)
References: JCPDS #41-254, 41-1390; Huebner's reference patterns
Found: cuprite, malachite, minor quartz, unindexed reflection at 3.23 Angstroms
Comment: Cuprite and quartz reflections sharp, indicating good crystallinity. Many malachite reflections could be indexed and compare well with a weak reference pattern of malachite from the SSH collection.
J.S.Huebner, J.Pickrell, T. Schaefer, written communication(1994 USGS)
Also::::
40 kV - 30 mA, 6.5-9.5 keV
File: cupr127.out, *.mdi; cupr127b.out, *.mdi
References: JCPDS #41-254, 41-1390, 4-836, and Huebner's reference patterns
Found: Cuprite >> quartz > malachite, copper (?), unidentified weak reflection at
3.23 Angstroms
Sought but not found: chalcocite, covellite, digenite, chalcopyrite, pyrite,
goethite, hematite, magnetite, brochantite, atacamite, antlerite, azurite
Comment: Strong and sharp cuprite pattern - the material is well crystallized.
All other reflections of moderate to very weak intensity. The quartz
identification is based on the (100) and (101) reflections only. Malachite is
based on five very weak reflections. The copper is based on a weak (111) and
very weak (220). [The copper (111) could be pyrrhotite (10-12), but that would
leave unexplained the reflection at the position of the copper (220).]
END_XRD_ANALYSIS.
COMPOSITIONAL_ANALYSIS_TYPE: None # XRF, EPMA, ICP(Trace), WChem
COMPOSITION_TRACE: None
COMPOSITION_DISCUSSION:
END_COMPOSITION_DISCUSSION.
MICROSCOPIC_EXAMINATION:
mode:
77 vol% cuprite
10 vol% quartz
10 vol% azurite-malachite
3 vol% white soft mineral
Red metallic luster is diagnostic of cuprite. G. Swayze.
END_MICROSCOPIC_EXAMINATION.
SPECTROSCOPIC_DISCUSSION:
END_SPECTROSCOPIC_DISCUSSION.
SPECTRAL_PURITY: 1b2_3_4_ # Cuprite HS127.2B # 1= 0.2-3, 2= 1.5-6, 3= 6-25, 4= 20-150 microns
SPECTRAL_PURITY: 1b2c3c4c # Cuprite HS127.3B # 1= 0.2-3, 2= 1.5-6, 3= 6-25, 4= 20-150 microns
SPECTRAL_PURITY: 1b2_3_4_ # Cuprite HS127.4B # 1= 0.2-3, 2= 1.5-6, 3= 6-25, 4= 20-150 microns