Cuprite

Item Description

A wonderful specimen of fine crystallized Cuprite from Tsumeb. The central portion of the specimen hosts several incredibly well-formed crystals with distinct, smooth faces that look like a combination of octahedral and dodecahedral forms. The largest crystal measures 1.1 cm on edge. The outer perimeter of the Cuprite group is contacted where it was separated from the pocket wall, but those crystals in the middle are pristine and beautiful. With strong backlighting, the Cuprites show a deep metallic blood red hue internally. A bit of drusy cream colored Dolomite is present, along with some tiny crystals of what could be Mimetite or possibly Cerussite, but they are very small and hard to identify with a loupe. A lovely piece of this classic material from what many people consider to the be the world's greatest mineral locality. From the collection of Colin Manlove.