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Dominant species
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Tenorite
Tenorite
Chemical
Formula
CuO
Species
Oxides & Hydroxides
Crystal
System
Monoclinic
Mohs
Scale
3
Specific
Gravity
6.5
Color
Steel-gray, iron-gray, black
Streak
Black
Luster
Metallic
Diaphaneity
Opaque
Cleavage
Poor/IndistinctIn zones and
Fracture
Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Crystal Habit:Lathlike crystals, curved, scaly, dendritic; commonly pulverulent, earthy, massive
Geological Setting:In the oxidized zone of copper deposits, also as volcanic sublimate.
Tenorite is a copper oxide mineral with the simple formula CuO.

Occurrence

Tenorite occurs in the weathered or oxidized zone associated with deeper primary copper sulfide orebodies. Tenorite commonly occurs with chrysocolla and the copper carbonates, azurite and malachite. The dull grey-black color of tenorite contrasts sharply with the often intergrown blue chrysocolla. Cuprite, native copper and Fe–Mn oxides also occur in this environment.

In addition to the hydrothermal, tenorite also occurs as a volcanic sublimate from Vesuvius, Campania, and Etna, Sicily, Italy. As a sublimate it occurs with copper chlorides, alkali chlorides and cotunnite.

Tenorite was named for the Italian botanist Michele Tenore (1780-1861).