Atomic Positional Parameters
Cu 4b 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
O  2a 0.2500 0.2500 0.2500

Reference
R Restori and D Schwarzenbach (1986)
Acta Cryst. B, 42, 201-208

Mineral Chemistry
Cuprite, which was one of the earliest minerals to be analysed by X-ray diffraction, has an intriguing crystal structure. Oxygen atoms form a body centred cubic lattice, while copper atoms form a face-centred cubic lattice such that every copper atom is half-way between two oxygen atoms. Two independent networks of linked atoms, which are not cross-connected to each other, may be identified in this structure. Copper atoms are coordinated by two oxygens, while each oxygen atom is tetrahedrally coordinated by copper. The synthetic phase Ag₂O has the cuprite structure.

Cuprite, a minor ore of copper, is common in the oxidised zone of copper veins, occurring with native copper, malachite, azurite and primary sulphides.

The CHIME figure outlines the cuprite unit cell in grey. Copper atoms are shown dark red, oxygen atoms are bright red.