Cuprite var: Chalcotrichite

Item Description

Chalcotrichite specimens from Tsumeb are not terribly common, we've only hand a handful in recent years to offer in the auctions, and this piece is a good example of this attractive material. For reference, Chalcotrichite is not a species, but rather an acicular variety of the mineral Cuprite. This small cabinet piece features intense red colored matted groups comprising tiny "needles" of Chalcotrichite on vugs of off-white colored Smithsonite, on hefty (copper-bearing or lead-bearing?) matrix. While copper is common as ore at Tsumeb, these kinds of copper minerals for collectors are uncommon. From the collection of Kurt Hefendehl (#34 T), a well-known German collector all over Europe with worldwide contacts to dealers and collectors. He started collecting seriously at the age of 14 and his great and varied worldwide collection reached over 6000 pieces. He was very active mineralogically until shortly before his passing in 2020 at the age of 82. Considering his collection had a large number of pieces, it still had an unusually high standard of quality from most worldwide localities. He particularly specialized in all classics as well as minerals of the Black Forest, where he spent much time collecting. His Black Forest and German subcollections went to his good friend Wolfgang Wendel. We at The Arkenstone have the privilege of offering the remainder of this great worldwide collection over the next two to three years through our various platforms.