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Mineral Specimens with Chalcocite
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10.6 x 7.2 x 3.8 cm. Clinoatacamite is a rare copper chloride and is a polymorph of atacamite, botallackite and paratacamite. This old-time cabinet specimen from the historic Levant Mine of Cornwall has a rich covering of sparkly, dark green clinoatacamite crystals on massive chalcocite matrix. This species is very rare from the famous mines of Cornwall. Ex. Wes Parker, Tony Ellis, Sutcliffe and Barstow Collections.
5.4 x 4.2 x 4.0 cm. Lustrous to matte-finish, metallic-gray chalcocite crystals richly cover the contrasting, 3-dimensional, gossan matrix on this fine specimen from the Tincroft Mine of Cornwall. The sharp, blocky, tabular crystals are up to 5 mm. The mines in this historic area closed around 1913. Ex. Wes Parker Collection.
8.0 x 6.3 x 3.6 cm. An amazingly sculptural cluster of fine, large crystals of covellite that have been completely replaced by lustrous, jet black chalcocite. This is a major Butte specimen of some importance, just for the size alone. However, given the good aesthetics and nearly pristine condition, it is also a fine display quality specimen by any standard aside from the historical significance of the piece for the locale. It was in the Gerald Herfurth collection for 40 years, prior to Ed's purchase of it. Herfurth acquired it in 1958 from Pohndorf, a noted Colorado dealer and collector of the time. Verbally, it was said that this was found in 1883 and this was noted on Herfurth's card label. We know it is old, certainly, but if it really is that old, this is even more a piece of import. Ex. Dr. Edward David, Gerald Herfurth, and August Pohndorf Collections.
4.5 x 3.8 x 2.1 cm. This historical old specimen, once in the possession of Lord Tynes in 1876 (according to a probably mid-1900s attached label from a collector named D. Bury), is different than many St. Ives chalcocites I have seen, in that the lustrous, black crystals are bladed, to 4.0 cm in length, rather than the standard, short or long prismatic crystals showing flat terminations. These look most unusual, and the result is more sparkle than you normally see in a Cornish chalcocite. The lustre is incredible, brilliantly jet black...it is a stunning, slightly iridescent surface. Ex. Ed Ruggiero Collection.
4.2 x 2.8 x 2.3 cm. This unusual specimen hosts both stereotypical disc-like crystals of chalcocite at the bottom, and also several unusual large and striated crystals rising above. In person, it is much more dramatic, and the "v" shape you see in the middle is probably indicative of twinning between the two main crystals, rising vertically from the base. Ex. Robert Rich Collection.
2.7 x 2.5 x 1.4 cm. Sharp, lightly iridescent, peacock-blue, golden-bronze and magenta chalcocite crystals form an excellent, two-sided thumbnail specimen from the famous mid-1990s finds at the Flambeau Mine of Wisconsin. The large crystal is 1.8 cm and the piece has a nice sculptural aspect to it. Highly representative material from this famous locale, which is now extinct. The exact mine location is the Lucky Friday Pocket, 970 Level. Ex. Wes Parker Collection.
6.2 x 4.5 x 3.4 cm. Sharp, lustrous, gray chalcocite crystals to 5 mm richly cover the mounded matrix. The chalcocite is associated with splendent, specular hematite and coatings of iridescent bornite. The matrix appears to be solid, massive chalcocite. Rich copper ore, here. The area around this historic mine was intermittently active from the late 1700s until 1990. Ex. Wes Parker Collection.
3.4 x 2.7 x 2.2 cm. A 9 mm, sharp, lustrous chalcocite spear-point is aesthetically set on 3-dimensional, gossan matrix accented with malachite and a few quartz crystals on this excellent, old-time specimen from the Dolcoath Mine of Cornwall. Certainly, classic and highly representative material from this noted mine. The Dolcoath was one of Cornwall’s richest mines and produced from the 1720s until about 1920. 200 years of production. Ex. Wes Parker Collection.
5.9 x 5.3 x 3.8 cm. Lustrous, dark gray, flattened chalcocite crystals to 6 mm richly cover the matrix of solid chalcocite on this fine specimen from the famous Geevor Mine of Cornwall. According to the label, the piece was collected in 1979 from the North Pig Lode of this noted mine. The area around this historic mine was intermittently active from the late 1700s until 1990. Ex. Wes Parker Collection.
A bornite-on-chalcocite specimen from the collection of John Barlow. The flat, integrown crystals show a steely blue sheen. This specimen has Barlow''s sticker on the back. 2.9 x 2.8 x 1.9 cm
4.8 x 4.8 x 2.8 cm. Lustrous, dark gray, flattened chalcocite crystals to 8 mm richly cover the vuggy gossan matrix on this fine specimen from the famous Camborne – Redruth – St Day District of Cornwall. The two, larger crystals are classic drill-bit twins. Old-time material. Ex. Wes Parker Collection.
1.6 x 1.1 x 0.8 cm. An aesthetic, old-time thumbnail specimen of sharp, striated, lustrous, dark metallic-gray chalcocite prisms from the Bristol Copper Mine, Connecticut. 100+ years old, these are considered to be some of the very best chalcocites from anywhere in the world. Classic material. Ex. Irv Brown Thumbnail Collection.
8.6 x 7.3 x 3.2 cm. Very sharp chalcocite crystals from Tsumeb. This specimen of quartz is covered with myriad small crystals of chalcocite with bluish gray luster to several mm. Small in size but very sharp and overall a very rich specimen for this important locale. The crystals are lumped together but individual crystals are clearly distinguishable.
5.5 x 5.3 x 2.9 cm. Lustrous, dark gray, flattened chalcocite crystals to 9 mm richly cover the matrix of solid chalcocite on this fine specimen from the Geevor Mine of Cornwall. Textbook pseudo-hexagonal chalcocite crystals here. According to the label, the piece is from the Grenfell Lode of this noted mine. The area around this historic mine was intermittently active from the late 1700s until 1990. Ex. Tony Ellis and Wes Parker Collections.
A SHARP miniature with wonderful iridescent colors and unusually good terminations. 4.1 x 3 x 0.7 cm
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Rob Lavinsky, rob@irocks.com
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