Natural Copper (Zi Ran Tong)
Natural Copper (Zi Ran Tong) (Bright yellow, metallic luster, cubic, resembles brass chunks, brownish-red, streaks, hard and brittle)
【Naming】
n 【Source】n
Song Kaibao
n 【Frequency of Use】n
D
n 【Botanical Source】n
Natural iron sulfide ore, namely pyrite.
n 【Properties】n
Mostly in the form of regular cubes, varying in size, usually 0.3~2 cm in diameter. The surface is flat. Unoxidized samples are in the shape of square chunks, copper-colored or bright yellow, with a metallic luster, closely resembling brass chunks. Oxidized samples are reddish-brown or brownish-red, without a metallic luster. It is hard but easily broken. The fracture surface is bright yellowish-white with a metallic luster. It has no odor and no taste. Iron sulfide ore, when burned, produces a blue flame and a pungent sulfurous odor.nVinegar Natural Copper (Zi Ran Tong): Shaped like the raw product, the surface appears black with interspersed non-shiny spots, reddish-red, with calcined cracks, and is hard and loose in texture.
n 【Identification】n
“Materia Medica Illustrated”: “Modern southern doctors say: Natural Copper (Zi Ran Tong) has two or three forms: one is as large as hemp seeds or millet, or multi-faceted, linked together, up to the size of a dou (a unit of volume), with a brilliant and bright color like gold ore, which is the best.” “Compendium of Materia Medica”: “Multi-faceted, linked together, up to the size of a dou, with a brilliant and bright color like gold ore, which is the best.” “Handy Guide to Benevolent Arts”: “Natural Copper (Zi Ran Tong), the ones with small golden stars are the best.”nGood quality is characterized by intact blocks, a regular cubic shape resembling a dice, a yellow and shiny color, a smooth surface, a white fracture surface, and no rust color. Those that are black and dull, with excessively large or small broken pieces are of secondary quality.
n 【Identification Terminology】n
(Modern) 1. Brittleness: Refers to the property of a mineral being easily broken or crushed, such as Natural Copper (Zi Ran Tong).
【Category】
Minerals