One of the few real surprises for Tucson 2009 was a small pocket of coppers, many beautifuully crystallized with sharp, complex habits of crystallization. Some were associated with small reddish cuprite crystals. We had an early tipoff on the lot as it was being unpacked, and present them here.

US$    € EURO    ¥ YEN    £ POUND    CAN$    AUS$    10 specimens selected  -  back to the Galleries TUC09-01 - Copper with Cuprite - $ 3500 Poteryaevskoe Mine, Rubtsovsk, Altai, Western-Siberian Region, Russia cabinet, 10.9 x 6.9 x 6.7 cm CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: This is certainly by far and away the largest copper of my own lot ; and moreover the finest well-crystallized specimen I was able to see or hear about, at Tucson 2009. There may be better, but if so they never made it to market here, I am pretty sure. The cluster is very complexly crystallized, with a rich coppery patina that is bright but not "cleaned" or chemically treated. It is a floater, with no attachment points. It is 3-dimensional, more so than the photos can indicate. Perched atop the apex of the specimen, on sharp copper crystals, are a number of 2-3mm cuprite crystals of deep red color. The copper itself is, in person, MUCH more beautiful than our pics can convey, and I would say that this stands as an extremely significant Russian copper specimen but also a display-worthy one (not always the same thing!). Really quite unprecedented for a Russian find! TUC09-02 - Copper - $ 475 SOLD Poteryaevskoe Mine, Rubtsovsk, Altai, Western-Siberian Region, Russia thumbnail, 2.9 x 2.3 x 2.2 cm CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: This is a large thumbnail, toenail, or small miniature as you prefer to call it. It is a sparkling, jewel-like copper cluster that is 3-dimensional and exquisitely crystallized all around. In fact, it is a floater, with no attachment points. The shape is overall somewhat like a children's toy "jack" , in that it sits at many angles. The crystals are to 1 cm, and have a natural , shimmering patina that is very distinct for this find. TUC09-03 - Copper with Cuprite - $ 600 Poteryaevskoe Mine, Rubtsovsk, Altai, Western-Siberian Region, Russia miniature, 4.0 x 1.9 x 1.4 cm CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: This miniature specimen displays an elegant stack of copper crystals one atop the other, showing several habits. The crystals are to 1 cm, and have a natural , shimmering patina that is very distinct for this find. Sharp red cuprite to 5mm decorates one side of the specimen, providing a novel accent. This is an excellent representation of the combination from this locality, and quite displayable as well. The copper crystals would be fine for Michigan, but they are phenomenal by previous standards for Russian coppers. TUC09-04 - Copper - $ 1750 Poteryaevskoe Mine, Rubtsovsk, Altai, Western-Siberian Region, Russia miniature, 3.5 x 2.6 x 1.4 cm CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: I call this one the "X" for obvious reasons - not very creative, but the name fits. It is a floater cluster with no point of attachment, and it looks sexy from both sides. Both sides show the cuprite association, perched on the slightly shimmering copper with its unique patina characteristic of this find. This piece has a presence beyond its size, and is probably my single favorite specimen in this update because of its crazy aesthetics - this would be an amazing specimen from ANY locality, Russian or otherwise. But for Russia, this quality of copper is very much more fine than the norm. Nevertheless, it is the association that makes these pieces unique. TUC09-05 - Copper - $ 750 Poteryaevskoe Mine, Rubtsovsk, Altai, Western-Siberian Region, Russia miniature, 5.2 x 2.5 x 2.0 cm CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: A dramatic, arborescent copper specimen with sharp crystals and the unique shimmering patina this mine will , I think, be famous for someday. The piece is complete all around and has stunning , elegant form. Really quite unprecedented for a Russian find! TUC09-06 - Copper - $ 1450 Poteryaevskoe Mine, Rubtsovsk, Altai, Western-Siberian Region, Russia small cabinet, 6.3 x 2.9 x 2.7 cm CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: A dramatic, sculptural, 360-degree-around copper specimen with sharp crystals and the unique shimmering patina this mine will , I think, be famous for someday. All crystals are sharp - and the piece is very intricate in person. The piece is a floater, with no attachments to mar its symmetry all around. The crystals are SHARP, more evident perhaps in person than we can convey with photos. Really quite unprecedented for a Russian find, this would be superbly crystallized and important from any locality but from here, all the more so! TUC09-07 - Copper with Cuprite - $ 1250 Poteryaevskoe Mine, Rubtsovsk, Altai, Western-Siberian Region, Russia small cabinet, 7.2 x 3.8 x 2.5 cm CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: This specimen has perhaps the most robust, fat crystals of the lot, with brilliant and metallic color, sharp elongated forms of several crystallographic habits, and a minor association with the cuprite which I think this find will become known for. It is MUCH more intricate and 3-dimensional in person, and is, I think, a major Russian copper specimen which should in the past have commanded twice the price. TUC09-08 - Copper with Cuprite - $ 1850 Poteryaevskoe Mine, Rubtsovsk, Altai, Western-Siberian Region, Russia small cabinet, 6.9 x 2.7 x 1.8 cm CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: This is the piece with the brightest lustre of the lot, truly metallic and gorgeous, with a contrasting red cuprite octohedron capping the termination of this arborescent copper cluster. The coppers here are SHARP, some showing a distorted form that is almost, but not quite, cubic. I think the overall look of the crystal habits, the cuprite atop, and the fact that this is just plain good by any standard all combine to make this a particularly important Russian copper specimen from these new finds. TUC09-09 - Copper - $ 900 Poteryaevskoe Mine, Rubtsovsk, Altai, Western-Siberian Region, Russia small cabinet, 6.4 x 3.1 x 1.7 cm CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: This floater specimen features a 2-cm-long elongated crystal atop, connecting into a sculpture-like cluster below. A dramatic, sculptural, 360-degree-around copper specimen with sharp crystals and the unique shimmering patina this mine will , I think, be famous for someday. All crystals are sharp - and the piece is very intricate in person. The piece is a floater, with no attachments to mar its symmetry all around. The crystals are SHARP, more evident perhaps in person than we can convey with photos. Really quite unprecedented for a Russian find, this would be superbly crystallized and important from any locality but from here, all the more so! TUC09-10 - Copper with Cuprite - $ 950 Poteryaevskoe Mine, Rubtsovsk, Altai, Western-Siberian Region, Russia thumbnail, 3.2 x 2.1 x 1.9 cm CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE: This "boxbuster" competition-level thumbnail, or toenail if you will, is mostly a crazily complex SHARP copper crystal that is about an inch from tip to tip and complete all around. On the apex are several contrasting (in both color and visual form, of course), sharp, reddish cuprite crystals The cuprite has a high lustre and so does the copper - a unique, shimmering patina that seems unique to this find and quite distinct from the surface patina of other coppers I have handled from common locales. Overall, this is a dramatic, sculptural, 360-degree-around copper specimen with sharp crystals and the unique shimmering patina this mine will , I think, be famous for someday. All crystals are sharp - and the piece is very intricate in person. The piece is a floater, with no attachments to mar its symmetry all around. The crystals are SHARP, more evident perhaps in person than we can convey with photos. Really quite unprecedented for a Russian find, this would be superbly crystallized and important from any locality but from here, all the more so. This copper look sdifferent from any other copper I have seen from anywhere, in many subtle ways - before you factor in the crazy garland of sharp cuprite atop!