cuprite

American  

[kyoo-prahyt, koo-] / ˈkyu praɪt, ˈku- /

noun

1. a mineral, cuprous oxide, Cu 2 O, occurring in red crystals and brown to black granular masses: an ore of copper.

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cuprite British  

/ ˈkjuːpraɪt /

noun

1. a red secondary mineral consisting of cuprous oxide in cubic crystalline form: a source of copper. Formula: Cu 2 O

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Etymology

Origin of cuprite

First recorded in 1840–50; cupr- + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

CUPRITE, a mineral consisting of cuprous oxide, Cu2O, crystallizing in the cubic system, and forming an important ore of copper, of which element cuprite contains 88.8%.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 8 "Cube" to "Daguerre, Louis" by Various

The etching figures do not, however, conform to this lower degree of symmetry, nor do crystals of cuprite rotate the plane of polarization of plane-polarized light.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 8 "Cube" to "Daguerre, Louis" by Various

Spangolite, spang′gō-līt, n. a rare mineral found in hexagonal green crystals along with cuprite in Arizona.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

The oxide group of minerals—including the copper carbonates, azurite and malachite; the silicate, chrysocolla; the oxide, cuprite; the sulphates, chalcanthite and brochantite; and some native copper associated with these minerals—probably supplies another 5 per cent.

From The Economic Aspect of Geology by Leith, C. K. (Charles Kenneth)

The minerals associated with the quartz in this vein, especially the cuprite and mispickel, are found most abundantly upon the foot-wall side, or underside of the quartz itself.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 13, No. 79, May, 1864 by Various