Cuprite (great gemminess and luster)

Item Description

A wonderful specimen of this now hard to find material. For all intents and purposes, the mine is no longer producing any more specimens, and when it comes to Cuprites from Milpillas, they were difficult to find to begin with. This cabinet display specimen is loaded with incredibly brilliant / splendent, very sharp, dazzling mirror-like, octahedra of Cuprite with a silvery metallic luster that changes to an intense blood red hue when the crystals are backlit. The crystals have formed in a semi-layered / stacked growth, and individual crystals are not terribly easy to isolate, but I can find a few that measure at least 4 mm. When you consider the incredible luster of the crystals with that glowing red color, it's remarkably fine quality Cuprite regardless of the locality. I love these specimens, and because so few were found, they don't get the recognition they deserve for their superior quality and color. The piece is in great shape overall with only a bit of roughness around the periphery where the piece was removed from the pocket wall. If you're a fan of secondary copper minerals or specifically Mexican minerals, be sure to pick up this eye-catching and high quality Cuprite. Valued at $950.