Copper on Wood (Bisbee - post mining) ex Mullane Coll.

Item Description

Mining artifacts such as this native copper on wood are seldom preserved. This is a sculptural, LARGE CABINET piece of a wooden beam used as a support in one of the old copper mines at Bisbee. Perculating ground water was so rich in copper solutions, that the copper precipitated and was deposited on the beam as the water flowed across it. This piece is not fossilized and is is very light weight. This is old-time material from Bisbee, certainly around 100 years old. The miners probably saw lots of this in the old mined-out upper levels, but never thought about keeping any. The texture of the wood is certainly obvious on both sides. Ex Dennis Mullane Bisbee Collection.