Name/Title
Native CopperEntry/Object ID
2009.62.12Description
Chemical Composition: Cu
Crystal System: Cubic or Isometric S
Description: Common Name: Native Copper
Chemistry: Cu
Group: Element
Location: Bagdad, Arizona USA
Description: Slighty mmtalii, looks like foilage from an evergreen tree.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color is copper colored with weathered specimens tarnished green.
Luster is metallic.
Transparency is opaque.
Crystal System is isometric; 4/m bar 3 2/m
Crystal Habits include massive, wires and arborescent or branching forms as the most common, whole individual crystals are extremely rare but when present are usually cubes and octahedrons. Occasionally, massive forms will show some recognizable crystal faces on outer surfaces.
Cleavage is absent.
Fracture is jagged.
Streak is reddish copper color.
Hardness is 2.5-3
Specific Gravity is 8.9+ (above average for metallic)
Associated Minerals are silver, calcite, malachite and other secondary copper minerals.
Other Characteristics: ductile, malleable and sectile, meaning it can be pounded into other shapes, stretched into a wire and cut into slices.
Best Field Indicators are color, ductility and crystal habit.
Fracture: jagged
Hardness: 9 Corundum
Luster: Metallic
Occurrence: Copper occurs in the upper levels of copper sulfide veins and in some types of volcanic rock.
Rock Type: Igneous
Specific Gravity: 8.9
Streak: reddish copper color
Texture: Microcrystaline
Variety: Copper is usually found in nature in association with sulfur. Pure copper metal is generally produced from a multistage process, beginning with the mining and concentrating of low-grade ores containing copper sulfide minerals, and followed by smelting and electrolytic refining to produce a pure copper cathode. An increasing share of copper is produced from acid leaching of oxidized ores. Copper is one of the oldest metals ever used and has been one of the important materials in the development of civilization. Because of its properties, singularly or in combination, of high ductility, malleability, and thermal and electrical conductivity, and its resistance to corrosion, copper has become a major industrial metal, ranking third after iron and aluminum in terms of quantities consumed.Collection
RAGM Mineral CollectionAcquisition
Accession
2009.62Source or Donor
Museum Collection of MineralsAcquisition Method
DonationDimensions
Width
7 inDepth
1/8 inLength
9 inWeight
1.86 ozDimension Notes
Dimension taken at widest pointsLocation
Location
Display Case
FS-5Room
Frieda Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumCategory
ExhibitMoved By
Ian C.Date
January 29, 2025Notes
Major mineral groups installationLocation
Display Case
FS-4-ARoom
Frieda Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumDate
January 4, 2024