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Cuprospinel

A valid IMA mineral species
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08476570017271922329240.jpg
Cuprospinel

Rambler Mine, Baie Verte, Baie Verte Peninsula, Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
06990480017772729796401.jpg
Cuprospinel, etc.

Yuhama beach, Aogashima Island, Hachijō Subprefecture, Tokyo Metropolis, Japan
09924160017570110469525.png
Cuprospinel

Yuhama beach, Aogashima Island, Hachijō Subprefecture, Tokyo Metropolis, Japan
08476570017271922329240.jpg
Cuprospinel

Rambler Mine, Baie Verte, Baie Verte Peninsula, Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
01138610017757499575103.jpg
Cuprospinel, etc.

Yuhama beach, Aogashima Island, Hachijō Subprefecture, Tokyo Metropolis, Japan
09958180017570113084403.png
Cuprospinel

Yuhama beach, Aogashima Island, Hachijō Subprefecture, Tokyo Metropolis, Japan
08476570017271922329240.jpg
Cuprospinel

Rambler Mine, Baie Verte, Baie Verte Peninsula, Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
06990480017772729796401.jpg
Cuprospinel, etc.

Yuhama beach, Aogashima Island, Hachijō Subprefecture, Tokyo Metropolis, Japan
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About CuprospinelHide

Formula:
Cu2+Fe3+2O4
Colour:
Black to grey
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
6½
Specific Gravity:
5.25 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Isometric
Name:
Named for the constituent copper and the spinel crystal structure.
Synthetically crystals have formed in Cubic and Tetragonal systems.
From Japan, the higher copper content material is tetragonal.
For ideal CuFe2O4, the region of stability for the cubic phase is above 360-440 °C, and thus the cubic phase may be the result of rapid cooling.

Cu0.86Fe3+1.98 Tetragonal a=5.826 c=8.682
Cu0.60Fe3+1.99 Cubic a=8.358



Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
1192
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1192:7

IMA Classification of CuprospinelHide

Classification of CuprospinelHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
4.BB.05

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
B : Metal: Oxygen = 3:4 and similar
B : With only medium-sized cations
Dana 8th ed.:
7.2.2.6

7 : MULTIPLE OXIDES
2 : AB2X4
Hey's CIM Ref.:
7.3.7

7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
3 : Oxides of Cu

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
CsplIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Pronunciation of CuprospinelHide

Pronunciation:
PlayRecorded byCountry
Jolyon RalphUnited Kingdom

Physical Properties of CuprospinelHide

Lustre:
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Black to grey
Streak:
Black
Hardness:
6½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=920 - 1081 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Density:
5.25 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of CuprospinelHide

Type:
Isotropic
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)
470nm22.7%
546nm21.7%
589nm21.0%
650nm20.0%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 22.7%.
Colour in reflected light:
gray

Chemistry of CuprospinelHide

Mindat Formula:
Cu2+Fe3+2O4
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Fe46.687 %
O26.751 %
Cu26.562 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Elements listed:
Cu, Fe, O - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of CuprospinelHide

Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
m3m(4/m32/m) - Hexoctahedral
Space Group:
Fd3m
Setting:
Fd3m
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.369 Å
Unit Cell V:
586.17 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Comment:
Some crystals are tetragonal

Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0009195CuprospinelPrince E, Treuting R G (1956) The structure of tetragonal copper ferrite Acta Crystallographica 9 1025-10281956synthetic0293
0012944CuprospinelVerwey E J W, Heilmann E L (1947) Physical properties and cation arrangement of oxides with spinel structures Journal of Chemical Physics 15 174-1801947synthetic0293
0012012CuprospinelMexmain J (1971) Contribution a l'etude du ferrite cuivreux et de ses solutions solides avec le ferrite cuivrique Annales de Chimie 1971 297-30819710293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
2.517 Å(10)
1.479 Å(6)
2.96 Å(5)
1.613 Å(4)
4.79 Å(3)
2.100 Å(3)
1.087 Å(3)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event<2.4
47h : [Near-surface oxidized, dehydrated minerals]
Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals<10 Ka
55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals
Geological Setting:
Low-Sulfidation Epithermal Gold Deposit (supergene?)
fumarolic mineral

Type Occurrence of CuprospinelHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Rambler Mine, Baie Verte, Baie Verte Peninsula, Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
General Appearance of Type Material:
irregular grains,
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 128673.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Burnt ore dump at the Rambler mine, Canada, where it was formed as the result of spontaneous combustion of mined copper-zinc ore
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
ChalcopyriteHematitePyritePyrrhotiteSphalerite
Reference:
NICKEL, E.H. (1973): The new mineral cuprospinel (CuFe2O4 ) and other spinels from an oxidized ore dump at Baie Verte, Newfoundland. Canadian Mineralogist 11, 1003-1007.

Synonyms of CuprospinelHide

Other Language Names for CuprospinelHide

Relationship of Cuprospinel to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Spinel Subgroup > Oxyspinel Group > Spinel Supergroup
Other Members of Spinel Subgroup:
ChihmingiteNiAl2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
ChromiteFe2+Cr3+2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
CochromiteCoCr2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
CoulsoniteFe2+V3+2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
DellagiustaiteV2+Al2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
Deltalumite(Al0.67◻0.33)Al2O4Tet. 42m : P4m2
FrankliniteZn2+Fe3+2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
GahniteZnAl2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
GalaxiteMn2+Al2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
GuiteCo2+Co3+2O4Iso.
HausmanniteMn2+Mn3+2O4Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I41/amd
HercyniteFe2+Al2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
HetaeroliteZnMn2O4Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I41/amd
JacobsiteMn2+Fe3+2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
'Jacobsite-Q'Mn2+(Fe3+,Mn3+)2O4Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I41/amd
Maghemite(Fe3+0.67◻0.33)Fe3+2O4Iso. 432 : P4132
MagnesiochromiteMgCr2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
MagnesiocoulsoniteMgV2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m)
MagnesioferriteMgFe3+2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
MagnetiteFe2+Fe3+2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
ManganochromiteMn2+Cr2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
'Nichromite'(Ni,Co,Fe)(Cr,Fe,Al)2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
SpinelMgAl2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
ThermaerogeniteCuAl2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
Titanomaghemite(Ti4+0.5◻0.5)Fe3+2O4Iso. 432 : P4332
TrevoriteNi2+Fe3+2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
'UM1994-06-O:AlCo'CoAl2O4
VuorelaineniteMn2+V3+2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
ZincochromiteZnCr2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
3 photos of Cuprospinel associated with HematiteFe2O3
2 photos of Cuprospinel associated with VolborthiteCu3(V2O7)(OH)2 · 2H2O
1 photo of Cuprospinel associated with Native CopperCu
1 photo of Cuprospinel associated with AnorthiteCa(Al2Si2O8)
1 photo of Cuprospinel associated with ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

4.BB.ChenmingiteFeCr2O4Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
4.BB.ThermaerogeniteCuAl2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
4.BB.ChukocheniteLiAl5O8Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Imma
4.BB.Elgoresyite(Mg5Si2)O9Mon. 2/m : B2/m
4.BB.JianmuiteZrTi4+Ti3+5Al3O16Tet. 4 : I4
4.BB.DellagiustaiteV2+Al2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
4.BB.GarpenbergiteMn6◻AsSbO10(OH)2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
4.BB.MagnéliiteTi3+2Ti4+2O7Tric. 1 : P1
4.BB.05Qandilite(Mg,Fe3+)2(Ti,Fe3+,Al)O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
4.BB.05ChromiteFe2+Cr3+2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
4.BB.05Filipstadite(Fe3+0.5Sb5+0.5)Mn2O4Iso.
4.BB.05JacobsiteMn2+Fe3+2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
4.BB.05WernerkrauseiteCa(Fe3+,Mn3+)2Mn4+O6Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
4.BB.05HarmuniteCaFe2O4Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbcm
4.BB.05ZincochromiteZnCr2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
4.BB.05Deltalumite(Al0.67◻0.33)Al2O4Tet. 42m : P4m2
4.BB.05FrankliniteZn2+Fe3+2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
4.BB.05CochromiteCoCr2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
4.BB.05'Nichromite'(Ni,Co,Fe)(Cr,Fe,Al)2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
4.BB.05HercyniteFe2+Al2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
4.BB.05GahniteZnAl2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
4.BB.05GalaxiteMn2+Al2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
4.BB.05GuiteCo2+Co3+2O4Iso.
4.BB.05CoulsoniteFe2+V3+2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
4.BB.05VuorelaineniteMn2+V3+2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
4.BB.05SpinelMgAl2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
4.BB.05ManganochromiteMn2+Cr2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
4.BB.05MagnesiocoulsoniteMgV2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m)
4.BB.05TrevoriteNi2+Fe3+2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
4.BB.05MagnesiochromiteMgCr2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
4.BB.05MagnesioferriteMgFe3+2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
4.BB.05MagnetiteFe2+Fe3+2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
4.BB.05UlvöspinelTiFe2+2O4Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
4.BB.10HausmanniteMn2+Mn3+2O4Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I41/amd
4.BB.10HetaeroliteZnMn2O4Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I41/amd
4.BB.10Manganostibite(Mn,Fe)7SbAsO12Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
4.BB.15Titanomaghemite(Ti4+0.5◻0.5)Fe3+2O4Iso. 432 : P4332
4.BB.15Maghemite(Fe3+0.67◻0.33)Fe3+2O4Iso. 432 : P4132
4.BB.20Tegengrenite(Mn3+0.5Sb5+0.5)Mg2O4Trig. 3 : R3
4.BB.25XieiteFe2+Cr2O4Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
4.BB.30CarmeltaziteZrAl2Ti4O11Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
4.BB.35FeiiteFe2+2(Fe2+Ti4+)O5Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmcm
4.BB.40MaohokiteMgFe2O4Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
4.BB.45Tschaunerite (Fe2+)(Fe2+Ti4+)O4Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmcm

Other InformationHide

Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for CuprospinelHide

References for CuprospinelHide

Localities for CuprospinelHide

Showing 8 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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Locality ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed. - This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. - Good crystals or important locality for species. - World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Canada (TL)
 
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
    • Newfoundland
      • Baie Verte Peninsula
        • Baie Verte
NICKEL (1973)
Germany
 
  • Saxony-Anhalt
    • Mansfeld-Südharz
      • Mansfeld
Gerhard Möhn Collection Analyzed by ...
India
 
  • Odisha
    • Anugul District
Mallick et al. (2005, March)
Iran
 
  • Sistan and Baluchestan Province
    • Iranshahr County
      • Bazman Volcano
Ali Sholeh et al. (2016)
Japan
 
  • Tokyo Metropolis
    • Hachijō Subprefecture
      • Aogashima Island
NISHIO-HAMANE et al. (2025)
Kenya
 
  • Tharaka-Nithi County
Waweru (2020)
Russia
 
  • Kamchatka Krai
    • Milkovsky District
Sandalov et al. (2023)
        • Great Fissure eruption (Main Fracture)
          • Northern Breakthrough (North Breach)
            • Second scoria cone
doi.org (n.d.) +1 other reference
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