Algodonite (old label circa early 1900's)

Item Description

Whitneyite is variety of copper containing up to 11.5% arsenic, with some intimately intergrown algodonite, and not a distinct species (MINDAT). MINDAT does not list it for Keweenaw County. This hefty piece is probably algodonite, copper arsenide. The embedded soft white material is possibly whewellite, a rare organic compound (It does not look like calcite). Whewellite was found at the Ahmeek Mine in Keweenaw County, as was algodonite. Undoubtably rare old-time material. R.M. Wilke was a well-known California collector/dealer and his label dates from 1907 to the 1930s or early 1940s. This is overall an interesting historic specimen for this copper district!