Cuprite is a mineral with high copper content. Metaphysical lore says that it is helpful for reducing worries about things one has no control over, awareness, teaching, and delivering spiritual messages. Cuprite is associated with kundalini energy as well as opening the flow of the base (root) chakra, the solar plexus chakra, and balancing the heart and base chakras. As a root chakra stone, it is considered very grounding and stabilizing. It is associated in traditional and mystical lore with will power, security, confidence, sexuality, mortality, and masculine energy. Mystically it is used to recall and examine past life experiences. It has been historically said to help heal one's relationship with their father. Traditional folklore and crystal healing lore purport that cuprite is helpful for healing problems with the thymus, heart, blood metabolism (especially imbalances), muscle tissue, skeletal system, oxygenation of the blood, stamina, kidneys, menstrual cramps, certigo, water retention, vitamin absorption, addictions and alcoholism. Known as the Warrior Stone, it strengthens will. Personal responsibility for the creation of one's life is accepted. Then guilt and self-defeating attitudes can be replaced by forgiveness and self-love.

A dull gemstone is not eye catching. Striking, vivid colors quickly catch the eye and raise the value of a gemstone. Australian Opals, with great fire, are costly, primarily because of their appealing colors. Even if the color of a mineral is vivid, it is still more valuable than a dull gemstone.

Minerals that have transparency provide a certain amount of clarity within the gemstone. The greater the clarity, the greater its value. Where a mineral has transparency there is the ability of seeing the crystalline structure, color, inclusions, phantoms etc that the crystal possesses. The greater the transparency, the more you can see, the more appealing it becomes, the greater its value.

Due to the stable chemical structure of minerals, luster is rarely a factor in mineral value, since the same type of minerals exhibit similar levels of luster. There are a few cases where a gemstone naturally exhibits a more impressive luster than other minerals of its kind. These exceptions give the gemstone a greater value.

Well-formed or unique crystals will raise the value of the gemstone, especially of large crystals. Nearly all natural crystals are deformed, some more than others. The larger a crystal, the more likely it is to be deformed.

Small, well formed, beautiful, gemstones are easier to find. Larger gemstones with similar properties are more expensive, because of their size. Fairly large gemstones, even of common minerals, will usually be of a higher value.

Gemstones of a mineral that are intrinsically different from normal gemstones of the mineral fall under this category. Properties such as abnormal color, pseudomorphs, twinning, and odd crystals give a gemstone extra value.

Crystals in a matrix are definitely more valuable than similar "freestanding" crystals. A matrix shows the original uniqueness of the mineral. Crystals in a matrix should always be selected over freestanding crystals.

Some minerals are not be considered attractive, but demand a high price because of their content, such as gold or silver.

Obviously, rare minerals are more costly than more common ones. Extremely rare minerals have a great value, even if they look ugly. The opposite is also true. Fairly common minerals, even if nicely colored and well formed have little value because of their commonness (unless they are exceptional).

Then there is always a spot for the exceptional gemstones. Gemstones that are magnificent, are always more valuable.