Cuprite on iridescent Limonite (circa early 1900s)

Item Description

Dramatically sculptural, large, old-time, two-sided combination from the famous mines at Bisbee. Sharp, highly modified cuboctahedral Cuprite crystals, to about 4 mm, are richly peppered on the front of the exotic looking gossan matrix covering with iridescent, botryoidal Limonite. The cuprites have metallic-gray luster, but bright light reveals classic cherry-red translucence to the crystals. The fantastic, coated, 5.0 cm, broken pseudomorph stalactite "smokestack" of gossan matrix plus the adjacent smaller and pristine similar stalactite add a surreal visual aspect to the piece. The impressive large vug on the back hosts highly lustrous limonite botryoids with adjacent Malachite, as a bonus. This is thought to have come out in the early 1900s. From the noted southwest collection of Dennis Mullane, formerly of Bisbee. Mullane was a major dealer of Arizona minerals in the 1960s and 1970s. We purchased his collection circa 2009. See the Mineralogical Record Biographic Archive for more information on the Mullane's at: https://mineralogicalrecord.com/biographies_labels/mullanedennis/. 1714 grams or 3.8 pounds mass. Undoubtedly old-time material, but no proof. Highly unusual and showy large Bisbee combination material with desirable cuprite in form and richness. Valued at $2000 or more for size and richness.