Cuprite

Item Description

Going back to the late 1990s - early 2000s, these attractive Cuprite specimens made a big splash when they first hit the market. They were among some of the best examples of crystallized Cuprite from any contemporary locality, and still hold their own against many others around the world. This nearly full cabinet sized display specimen is an incredibly eye-catching, aesthetic display specimen featuring dozens if not hundreds of fine, sharp, lustrous, deep reddish-black metallic Cuprite crystals forming intergrown groups or clusters to create a dramatic overall piece. A small amount of native copper is also visible on the piece when you look closely. The individual Cuprite crystals are primarily octahedral in habit, but I can see some small dodecahedral modifying faces in spots. Very little damage, you can only see the imperfections under magnification, and the piece is crystallized on both sides. Valued at $2,000.
From the collection of Richard ("Rich") A. Kosnar (1946-2007), the well-known mineral dealer and collector from Colorado. Rich was the namesake for the rare zirconium phosphate species, Kosnarite.