Calcite with Copper inclusions

Item Description

The Quincy Mine right in the heart of Michigan Copper Country is among the top producers of crystallized Copper in the history of the US. While we've all seen stellar Copper specimens from this mine, it's not easy to find good quality crystallized Calcites associated with Copper. This cabinet sized specimen features fine, sharp, translucent to gemmy, lustrous, copper-tinted Calcite scalenohedra surrounded by somewhat arborescent Native Copper "flanges" flaring out in different directions. The piece is essentially matrix-free (a tiny bit of attached host rock can be seen on the sides of the piece), but it still displays wonderfully as you can see from the photos. This was probably collected circa 1930s-1950s according to those who looked at it. I love the fact that the metallic rosy-pinkish color of the Copper inclusions can be seen all over the piece, which are a nice contrast against the aged Copper on the exterior of the specimen with their beautiful antique patina. For the most part, the piece is in excellent condition, and the only damage is around the outer edges where it was removed from the pocket wall. The largest individual Calcite crystal measures a full 5.0 cm long. Beautiful, classic, showy and fairly uncommon on the market nowadays. Originally priced in the inventory at $3,500.