Chalcopyrite on Calcite (ex Bob Reynolds Collection)

Item Description

A classic old combo from what used to be called the "El Cobre Mine", but it's more proper name is the Aranzazú Mine in Mexico. Several fine quality, sharp, well-formed, dark brassy colored crystals - some with a slight iridescence on the surface - of Chalcopyrite measuring up to 1.3 cm are intermixed with white "dogtooth"-shaped scalenohedra of Calcite measuring up to 1.6 cm with minor Quartz and Pyrite at the base of the piece. Overall the specimen is in fine shape, with very little damage. It's a showy and sculptural specimen as you can see, and I just love the contrast of the dark Chalcopyrite crystals with their antique patina against the gentle white Calcite crystals. These specimens came out in the 1970s, and are scarcely seen in today's market. A great old classic from this historic copper mine in Mexico. From the collection of Robert (Bob) Reynolds who passed in August of 2020. Bob was a well-known fossil and mineral expert and former Curator of Earth Sciences at the San Bernardino County Museum in California. The rare phyllomanganate-chromate species Reynoldsite was named in his honor in 2011.