A Geoscience Digital Image Library
A Geoscience Digital Image Library
| Title | Native copper in calcite |
|---|---|
| Description | This sample contains translucent calcite (CaCO3) with native copper inclusions. Calcite oxidizes when exposed to air, often becoming malachite (the green copper carbonate hydroxide in this specimen). When included in calcite crystals, the calcite prevents the copper from oxidizing, thus allowing the copper to preserve its coppery metallic color. Untarnished copper can be seen in several places in this sample, especially in the large calcite crystal in the lower left. The specimen is 6 cm across. |
| Location | USA ▹ Arizona. Near Bisbee. |
| Photographer | Darla Sondrol. 2001-06-25. |
| Collection | University of North Dakota Mineralogy Collection #18. |
| Key words | calcite, native Copper, Arizona |
| Tech details | 787 KB. Hand specimen. Fujifilm FinePix S1Pro digital camera; 60mm AF Nikon micro lens. |
| GeoDIL number | 855 |
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