Calaverite with purple Fluorite (ex Rich Kosnar Collection)

Item Description

The Cripple Creek District in Colorado was one of the most prolific Telluride producing mining districts in the United States. Telluride species from this area are highly sought after by collectors, and it is well justified as some superb examples are known from the various mines in the area. This specimen hosts a few small, excellent quality, sharp, lustrous, tabular, striated, monoclinic crystals of the rare Gold Telluride, Calaverite which have a bronzy hue. The crystals have a classic association (for this mine) of purple Fluorite and are sitting against grey Quartz matrix on matrix. The largest Calaverite crystal measures a few mm in length which is typical for the species and the locality, but an association with purple Fluorite is NOT typical. These specimens are very difficult to obtain, and considering that the majority of them were mined over 100 years ago, the only source for specimens is old collections.