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Gallery 9 Copper Mineral SpecimensReturn to Mineral Specimen Galleries
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C-241 Cuprite on Copper $135 Cornwall, England, UK 6 x 4.2 x 3.1 cm. This is an old, classic Cuprite specimen from one of the most famous areas in the world for the species. It is comprised of sharp, red-colored, millimeter-sized crystals of Cuprite richly covering a matrix of Copper crystals. This specimen is well over 100 years old and can be dated by the F. Krantz label that accompanies the specimen. A great old-time, classic mineral specimen.
M-066 Malachite on Chrysocolla $40 L'Etoile du Congo Mine, Lubumbashi, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo 7 x 2.6 x 2.6 cm This colorful specimen features vivid, deep green botryoidal Malachite spheres overgrowing light blue Chrysocolla. The Congo Malachite specimens are in my opinion not as greatly appreciated as they should be, probably because there has been a good supply of them, but they should not be underrated.
S-158 Shattuckite & Malachite $75 Kandesei, Kaokoveld Plateau, Kunene Region, Namibia 3.5 x 2 x 3.1 cm Shattuckite is a rare secondary copper silicate. This sculptural vug shows acicular banded Shattuckite that forms the botryoids in the interior. One side of the robins-egg blue outer crust is beautifully accented with bright green Malachite crystals. A classic Shattuckite with Malachite from finds made a few years ago.
C-247 Chrysocolla & Malachite pseudomorph after Azurite $165 Lupoto Mine, Kakumba, Kipushi, Katanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo 6.7 x 6.3 x 5.4 cm. Here we have a striking and colorful specimen of needle-like groups of medium-blue Chrysocolla which has overgrown pseudomorphs of Malachite after Azurite on a gossan matrix. I think these fairly new specimens from Lupoto are quite attractive based upon not only their fantastic color, but the fact that there are at least three generations of mineralization here. Initially the piece consisted of prismatic Azurite crystals, which were replaced by Malachite, and then a final generation of Chrysocolla came over the top. The largest individual pseudomorph measures 3centimeters. They are also pretty cool-looking due to the numerous spikes of Chrysocolla that protrude from the specimen like so many cactus needles.
C-233 Copper $80 Zarkashan Mountain, Ghanzi Province, Afghanistan 10 x 7 x 3 cm. When one thinks of minerals from Afghanistan one thinks of Kunzite, Tourmaline, Lazurite and the other "sexy" minerals. What many people don't realize is that Afghanistan's mineral wealth is much broader and deeper than that. The mineral wealth of Afghanistan has just begun to be exploited. I submit this specimen that is richly included with coarsely crystallized Copper as proof. I hope that the future will see many more examples of the "other" minerals of Afghanistan.
C-261 Chrysocolla pseudomorph after Boleite $50 Boleo District, Santa Rosalía, Municipio de Mulegé, Baja California Sur, Mexico 4.2 x 3.6 x 2 cm Here we present a Chrysocolla pseudomorph after cubic crystals of Boleite. These rare pseudomorphs were discovered a around 8-9 years ago, in an area nearer the Amelia Mine (not at the mine itself). This specimen exhibits the form of the replaced Boleite nicely, a feature you don't always get when it comes to pseudomorphs. I've been told that since 2010 they have not been able to recover any new specimens.
M-061 Malachite stalactite $225 Mashamba West Mine, Kolwezi District, Katanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo 12.3 x 2.3 x 2 cm. A fantastically shaped large Malachite stalactite from a famous locale. Some of the finest Malachite specimens known have come from Katanga in the Congo. Famous for its stalactitic Malachite; specimens from here are highly prized by collectors. This stalactite has a narrow hollow tube in its center, from the base all the way up to its tip. The specimen also has a matte finish and a striking, bulbous, non-linear form. One of the more unusual and striking single Malachite stalactites that I've seen. B-208 Brochantite $40 Mount Oxide Copper Mine, Mount Gordon, Gunpowder District, Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia 8.5 x 4.6 x 4 cm. This specimen features crystals of bright, vividly-colored crystals of Brochantite thickly covering a silceous gossan matrix. This specimen will add a shot of color to your mineral collection.
C-230 Copper $95 Iroquois Mine, Mohawk, Keweenaw County, Michigan 7.6 x 6.7 x 2.5 cm. A chunky example of Michigan float Copper, which refers to to glacially transported native Copper. This specimen has visible striations caused by glacial scouring. This same event accounts for the slightly mashed or slightly rounded form. Despite this, the specimen still exhibits some of its original crystalline form.
A-113 Azurite $500 Malbunka Copper Mine, Areyonga, Gardiner Range, MacDonnell Region, Northern Territory, Australia 9.4 x 7 x 4.4 cm An outstanding example of an Azurite “sun” from the Malbunka Copper Mine. The Azurite on this specimen has a beautiful and rich blue color as well as an interesting texture with good (as far as Azurite from this location is concerned) crystallization. The largest Azurite on this specimen measures 7 x 7 cm and is unusually thick; at 2.1 cm it is one of the thickest Azurite nodules that I have seen from this location. 4 or 5 mm in thickness is what you usually get. These Azurite “suns” form in a fashion that is unlike any other Azurite that I've seen. These flattened discs of Azurite are formed between layers of Kaolinite which forces them to grow in a laterally compressed, radiating manner. A top quality example of this material.
A-087 Azurite $65 Malbunka Copper Mine, Areyonga, Northern Territory, Australia 8 x 3.8 x 3.5 cm. These Azurite “suns” from the Malbunka Copper Mine form in a fashion that is unlike any other Azurites that I've seen. These flattened discs of Azurite are formed between layers of Kaolinite which forced them to grow in a laterally compressed, radiating manner. The Azurite on this specimen has a beautiful blue color and an interesting texture. The Azurite is much thicker than was on specimens recovered in earlier years from this famous location.
A-088 Azurite $80 Malbunka Copper Mine, Areyonga, Northern Territory, Australia 6.3 x 4.4 x 2.3 cm. These Azurite “suns” from the Malbunka Copper Mine form in a fashion that is unlike any other Azurites that I've seen. These flattened discs of Azurite are formed between layers of Kaolinite which forced them to grow in a laterally compressed, radiating manner. The Azurite on this specimen has a beautiful blue color and an interesting texture. The Azurite is much thicker than was on specimens recovered in earlier years from this famous location.
C-248 Conichalcite & Malachite with Calcite $30 Hilarion Mine, Agios Konstantinos, Lavrion District, Attikí Prefecture, Greece 4.7 x 3.4 x 2.4 cm. A vuggy specimen of the two copper minerals, Conichalcite and Malachite. This vibrantly colored specimen features well-formed crystals of calcite as well which add a nice accent to the piece.
C-220 Copper $45 Cape d'Or, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, Canada 6 x 2.4 x 1 cm. The Cape D'Or area in Nova Scotia has produced some very beautiful and aesthetic Copper specimens over the years. The prominent cliffs of the cape are Triassic age Basalts. Several separate lava flows occurred, and there is evidence that some erosion occurred between flows. At least six separate flows can be counted at Cape D'Or. Although small amounts of copper have been found in the basalts at various localities around the Bay of Fundy, the area around Cape D'Or the has the highest concentration. The specimens of Copper from Cape d'Or are considered to be very collectible.
C-271 Copper $50 Corocoro, Pacajes Province, La Paz, Bolivia 6.8 x 4.8 x .3 cm Most people are familiar with the Copper pseudomorphs after Aragonite from this locality, but to find non-pseudomorphic native Copper is rather rare. This large "sheet" of partially crystallized Copper is a great display from this historic locality. It has a gorgeous blue-green patina and a few areas with Copper crystals exposed. These pieces started to trickle out around late 2007 but are not easy to find. I'm told that the locality was recently purchased by a Korean mining company, so collecting and obtaining specimens will become very difficult in the future, as they're melting down every piece of copper they can find.
P-089 Azurite on Prosopite $30 Santa Rosa Mine, Santa Rosa, Municipio de Mazapil, Zacatecas, Mexico 2.2 x 1.5 x 1.3 cm This unusual mineral association is from a find made in the early 1960's. This specimen features subhedral crystals of the copper mineral Azurite in a matrix of Prosopite. Prosopite usually forms as an alteration product of Topaz in Topaz-rich greisens (as in Altenberg, Saxony and Schlaggenwald, Bohemia), and in Cryolite-bearing pegmatites, either as a primary mineral or as an alteration product of Cryolite. What led to the formation of Prosopite in this instance remains a mystery.
M-062 Malachite pseudomorph after Azurite $35 Morenci, Copper Mountain District, Greenlee County, AZ 2.7 x 1.7 x 1.5 cm A classic Morenci Malachite pseudomorph after Azurite. This well-formed pseudomorph is a deep green color and is covered by a jacket of lighter colored Malachite.
A-071 Atacamite & Halloysite $120 La Farola Mine, Cerro Pintado, Copiapó Province, Atacama Region, Chile 12 x 7 x 4 cm. This attractive, two-sided specimen features numerous lustrous sprays of the copper mineral Atacamite. Accenting the front side of this specimen is a band of off-white Halloysite and a matted covering of needle-like crystals of an unidentified mineral on the lower left portion of the specimen. The rear of this specimen features many sprays of Atacamite on a background of blebby, off-white Halloysite.
C-140 Cuprite variety Chalcotrichite on Copper $50 Ray Mine, Mineral Creek District, Pinal County, Arizona 8.5 x 5 x .7 cm. A dramatic matrix specimen of Copper accented by millimeter sized Cuprite crystals as well as acicular sprays of the variety of Cuprite, Chalcotrichite. A great mineral specimen from a classic U.S. mineral locality. While it looks spectacular when viewed by the naked eye, you will be amazed at the complexity of the crystallization of the Cuprite on this specimen when viewed by loupe or by microscope.
M-022 Malachite, Chrysocolla & Calcite $60 Katanga Copper Zone, Katanga, Congo 5.5 x 6.7 x 4 cm. This Specimen features the classic Katanga matrix of Chrysocolla and Calcite upon which is perched a cluster of wedge-like Malachites. The wedges are so dense at their centers that they appear black, grading to a velvet fuzz at their tips.
B-123 Brochantite and Malachite on Barite $40 Blanchard Mine, Socorro County, New Mexico 9 x 6.5 x 3 cm. This mineral specimen features a pair of Copper minerals on a matrix of Barite. Most abundant on this specimen are numerous sprays of the mineral Brochantite. A great looking specimen on it's own, but if viewed under a microscope it is even more exciting.
C-185 Copper $75 White Pine Mine, Ontonagon County, Michigan 8.6 x 7 x 1 cm. Here we offer a fine, sculptural sheet of native copper from the White Pine Mine of Michigan. This specimen is as bright as a newly minted penny. This copper specimen came out of the earth just like this, having formed as a thin seam running through layered shale matrix. The White Pine was one of the country’s largest copper mines dating back to 1880 and was worked until 1995. Once readily available these “sheet Coppers” are scarce these days.
A-070 Atacamite with Pseudomalachite & Gypsum $90 La Farola Mine, Cerro Pintado, Copiapó Province, Atacama Region, Chile 11 x 8.5 x 3 cm. This attractive matrix specimen features numerous, lustrous sprays of the copper mineral Atacamite accented by minute mounds and balls of the copper mineral Pseudomalachite. Resembling a snow-capped mountain, the top portion of this specimen is a blanketed with Gypsum.
C-113 Cuprite with Chrysocolla $60 Mashamba West Mine, Kolwezi, Katanga, Congo 6 x 5.5 x 3 cm. This matrix specimen of the Copper oxide mineral Cuprite is crowned by a 1.5 x 1.6 x 1.3 cm. pair of interpenetrating Cuprite crystals that have a slight metallic luster and show a hint of red near their termination. The matrix also has a coating of pale bluish Chrysocolla and a minor amount of dark green Malachite, making for a nice contrast of colors. This classic locality is no longer producing these classic Cuprite specimens.
AD-114 Malachite pseudomorph after Azurite $35 Sir Dominick Mine, South Australia, Australia 4 x 3.2 x 2.4 cm. An excellent, complete all-around floater, rosette-like nodule of Malachite pseudomorphing sharp, bladed Azurite crystals from the famous Sir Dominick Mine of South Australia. This old classic Australian copper mine was active from 1862-1920. You can see a tiny remaining spot of blue from the Azurite in the center, near the bottom.
A-047 Atacamite with Pseudomalachite $75 La Farola Mine, Cerro Pintado, Copiapó Province, Atacama Region, Chile 8 x 5 x 2 cm. Here is an example of Chile's signature mineral, Atacamite. This vividly-colored specimen features a multitude of Atacamite crystals, many of which are encrusted with the mineral Pseudomalachite. Good-looking specimens of Atacamite are increasingly harder to find these days.
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