Chalcocite

Item Description

A choice crystal of sharp, twinned chalcocite, showing the classic style for this mine. This is probably from the late 1800s heyday here. The term "black uglies" get thrown around a lot with mineral collectors but these Levant mine chalcocites are some of the most sought-after and collectible black minerals. The Cornwall chalcocites are old specimens, but they still set the standard for the species. Few are as well developed and 3-dimensional as this, with a perfect geometry for a competitive level of thumbnail collecting. This was originally from the collection of Bill and Anne Cook, collectors and dealers for over 60 years from Ohio, before going into the Alex Venzke collection. Valued $800-1000.