Auricupride

auricupride

gold

copper

bogdanovite

Images

Formula: Cu3Au
Alloy of copper and gold, auricupride subgroup, perovskite supergroup, paramorph of bogdanovite
Crystal System: Isometric
Specific gravity: 11.5 measured, 13.77 calculated
Hardness: 3½
Colour: Yellow with a reddish tint; in reflected light, violet-rose
Environments

Hydrothermal environments

Auricupride occurs in hydrothermal veins probably formed below 390oC (Ramdohr p336).
Associated minerals include gold, copper and other gold-copper alloys (HOM).

Localities

At the type locality, the Zolotaya Gora Au deposit, Soimon Valley, Karabash ophiolite massif, Karabash, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia, auricupride occurs in serpentinites as the product of low-temperature ordering and unmixing of gold - copper solid solution alloys (HOM).

At Rheinfelden, Aargau, Switzerland, auricupride occurs in reduction halos in Permian (298.9 to 251.9 million years ago) red beds (HOM).

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