Calcite with Copper inclusions, on Copper

Item Description

This is an old specimen from the mid to late 1800s classic-era heyday of copper mining in Michigan, one of the great USA classic finds of all time. These are unique, the world over. This specimen is particularly interesting - and pretty - which is why Jack picked it up from one of his favorite old guard generation of dealers (Gene Schlepp in his mid 80s is 20 years younger than Jack, but he is old guard to me and to the hobby!). Gene acquired this in a huge trove of old treasure from the Northwestern University collection in Chicago in the 1980s, which held many specimens donated by mine partners and geologists from the time these came out. It is special because of an amazing sharp copper crystal sitting right in the middle (2 cm wide, 1.5 cm tall), that is coated by a drapery of calcite. This is HIGHLY unusual! We have seen several hundred examples of this material and they are either Calcite with Copper inclusions (i.e. still a calcite!); or they are coppers sitting on calcite. This strange 3-generational stacking of Calcite (with copper inclusions) on copper, itself on calcite matrix, is hugely surprising. The more you look at it, the more you see the sharp contrast of calcite on copper crystals all over the piece, coating them partially or fully. Native copper in the form of veins and "leaves" of nestlike crystals also extend through the matrix, but it is the robust crystals atop that are the true oddity. The piece looks simple at first glance, but is not. And, this makes it different than all the others we have sold.