Copper xls (RARE superb old classic) Kay Robertson Coll.

Item Description

A RARE, superb and highly sculptural old-time large sharply crystallized floater copper from this far less well-known Copper Country mine. The noted Franklin Mine, organized in 1857 had exhausted its reserves by 1880 and was surrounded by the famous Quincy Mine. The company purchased property three miles north of the original mine in 1894 and renamed it the Franklin Jr. Mine. The Franklin Jr. mine closed in 1920 (MINDAT). Mineral specimens attributable to this mine are EXTREMELY RARE, as MINDAT has no photos in the mine photo gallery. This striking arborescent specimen has a well-developed spinel-twinned "spine" with sharply crystallized spinel-twinned "limbs" dramatically projecting outward on one side. The limbs and spine are composed of very sharp crystals with a fine variable patina from side to side. The crystals look to be mostly tetrahexahedrons with some crystals having a RARE cubic appearance. Crystallization is sharper and the patina is better on one side of this outstanding and rare old copper, that has multiple display possibilities. Ex Kay Robertson Collection # 7851 and acquired as a gift from well-known Illinois and California newspaper man, Russell MacFall, author of popular books on mineral collecting and collector. His collection included many fine pieces and was heavy in Michigan specimens. Read his biography in the Mineralogical Record Biographical Archive at: http://www.minrec.org/labels.asp?colid=1297. He passed away in 1983. Kay is a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics (see the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record). This superb and rare old-timer is fairly valued at $3000-4000.