This beautiful specimen has a texture and color like burnished brass, and shows off exactly why they used to call these "blister coppers" at the mine. This is an old European classic; and in fact even today among all the new deposits known for minerals, the best chalcopyrite of this style in the world seems to have come from these old mines in Cornwall, circa mid-to late-1800s. This is surely such an old piece, which makes it all the more amazing that it is in nearly pristine condition, despite being over 100 years old. It was in the collections Simon Harrison (of Bath, England), of Dr. Edward E. David (sold in 1991), and then Robert Trimingham (1991-2013). I have handled many of these over the years, including pieces from that era with old labels. But, none were so "pretty" as this one for overall aesthetics. Joe Budd photos.