Copper in Calcite

Item Description

Copper-included Calcites from Michigan are a highly prized varietal for any die-hard Copper collector, but also unique on a worldwide basis and therefore desirable for any collector who wants the rarest combinations that nature produces. Superb examples such as this one are instantly recognizable as Michigan classics, the kind of thing we see in the Smithsonian or the A. E. Seaman Museum; and are Michigan Copper Country classics. Generally, they do not form big, perfect crystals. For whatever reason, most of these Copper-included Calcites are found mostly as single crystals such as this big and beautiful one mainly because in many cases, it was easier for miners to pry off and carry out the beautiful singles in their lunch boxes, and so they did. This spectacular crystal measures three inches in length and one and a half inches in width; and is transparent to translucent of high quality. It just glows a coppery orange from all of the included Copper! It is richly included, and the copper is bright - whereas most specimens lack one of the other of those requirements. There are even a few Copper crystals jutting out and present on the right side of the crystal! The backside is attached to a moderately sized sliver of altered greenish basalt mixed with a little Copper and, as we said, the matrix is a rare bonus on this specimen. It is, given the age of 100 years or more, unbelievably near pristine (it has a slight contact or damage to the back of the termination which is just not noticeable, and also could be restored if somebody wants). These old classics come to market so rarely in this quality. This piece is accompanied by a custom engraved acrylic base. Values bandied about by collectors in our office ranged from $6500 to $12500 and, in any case, that seems a fair range for such a beautiful crystal of this antique combination in this size. This is from the large old classics collection of George Elling. Custom base included.