Copper pseudomorph after Aragonite (''floater'')

Item Description

This is a fantastic toenail sized specimen of the famous pseudomorphs of Copper after Aragonite from Corocoro. These unique specimens have been around for decades, but Corocoro is the only locality in the world where this specific type of pseudomorph is found. These specimens are instantly recognizable for their great form and color, and this piece has the classic and unique shape that has made these some of the most highly sought after pseudomorphs out there. It's also worth nothing that it's not terribly common to find a native element replacing a carbonate mineral like this in nature, which is just another added bonus to their appeal. This particular piece is incredibly impressive due to the fact it is not only a fully crystallized complete "floater" specimen, but also the fact that it is amazingly sharp, and not at all distorted / rounded like so many can be from Corocoro. The piece shows attractive pseudohexagonal form featuring a prominent, skeletal crystal that is highlighted by many secondary crystals flaring out of the prism faces. The piece is also noteworthy since there are MULTIPLE pseudomorphs featured, as most pieces show only one crystal ! Buy these now as the locality has been purchased by a Korean mining company and all of the pseudomorphs are being crushed and melted for their copper content. This piece comes from the personal collection of Colorado mining legend, Dave Bergman, the maternal grandfather of Brian Kosnar. Dave is now retired from mining, but he worked for decades in various mines underground in Colorado, as a miner, mechanic, engineer, shift boss and foreman. His biggest claim to fame is that he was the foreman and the primary person in charge of mining and specimen recovery at the Sweet Home Mine in Colorado in the 1970s alongside his son-in-law, Rich Kosnar. This project what was the FIRST ever operation for specimen recovery at this historic locality. A full-page photograph of Dave can be seen mining underground at the Sweet Home in on page 58 of Peter Bancroft's book "Gem and Crystal Treasures".