Auricupride

Auricuprid or Cuproaurid is a very rare mineral from the mineral class of metals, alloys and intermetallic compounds. It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system with the chemical formula Cu 3 Au and forms massive, at the edge of a very thin, flat aggregates of yellow, slightly reddish color. In reflected light, the mineral of a violet color appears.

Etymology and history

The mineral was found in 1950 at its type locality at Karabasch first time in the southern Urals. It is named after the Latin names of the elements involved aurum for gold and cuprum for copper.

Classification

In the classification of minerals according to Strunz Auricuprid is counted among the metals and intermetallic compounds, a subset of the elements. After the 8th edition, it forms together with Anyuiit, Bogdanovit Gold Hunchunit, copper, silver, and tetra- Auricuprid Yuanjiangit group. In the 9th edition is it with Tetraauricuprid in a subset of the copper - Cupalit family.

In the classification by Dana it forms with Tetraauricuprid and Yuanjiangit a subset of the metallic elements other than the platinum metals.

Modifications and varieties

Cuproaurid forms two varieties, the Argentocuproaurid and Rozhkovit. Argentocuproaurid contains in addition to gold and copper or silver. The platinum-containing variety Rozhkovit was up to its discrediting by the IMA in 2006 as an independent mineral.

Education and Locations

Auricuprid formed at low temperatures by order and separation of copper -gold alloys in serpentinites. It is associated with gold, copper and other gold-copper alloys.

Aurocuprid was found next to the type locality in Russia also in Argentina, Australia, Chile, the Czech Republic, South Africa and Switzerland.

Crystal structure

Aurocuprid crystallize in the cubic crystal system with the space group. The value of the lattice parameter a is 3.75 Å.