Chalcopyrite w/ Calcite (rare combo) Robertson Coll.

Item Description

The well-known copper deposits at Messina are famous for world-class specimens of ajoite and papagoite, rare Cu-silicates, included in quartz crystals. Chalcopyrite and calcite combinations of this outstanding quality are RARE, indeed! Glassy calcite scalenohedrons, to 7 mm and some doubly terminated, are peppered on all sides of the sculptural compound chalcopyrite crystal. Golden with some magenta iridescence is clearly visible under bright light on this very fine and rare 360-degree small cabinet. Ex Kay Robertson Collection # 4349, acquired in the mid-1960s and comes with a Burminco label. Kay is a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics (see the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record and the 50+ page article in the German Magazine "Mineralien Welt" November-December 2017). A very fine and aesthetic combination rarity from Messina.