| The name Cuprite was derived from CUPRUM, meaning copper, in 1845. It
originates secondarily by the oxidation of various primary copper ores.
It easily pseudomorphs after crystals and wires of native copper particularly
sulfides. While a common mineral with a high content of copper, it seldom
forms commercially important deposits. Perfect crystals of several centimeters
across were found at Chessy, France; Moldova, Romania; Nizhnii, Central
Urals, Russia; and at Bisbee, Arizona. Crystals from Onganja are large and
frequently form in gem quality red or crimson color, coated green by malachite.
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