Cuprite With Native Copper

Item Description

Rising from a bit of matrix is a cluster of intesely mirror-bright cuprite octahedra that start small at the bottom of the specimen and are surmounted by crystals at the apex to 1.8 cm in length. The crystals are exceptionally bright and splendent, slightly translucent and of a deep red color. Only at the mid-rear (on the backside) of the specimen is there noticeable damage, the piece otherwise being complete. This is the best quality that came out early, nearly 18 years ago now! Material today still trickles out from time to time, but the crystals have a burned and dull luster in comparison. Additionally, this works as a display miniature, more aesthetic than most. So, overall, it's a very fine display quality miniature, with about the brightest luster of any , and an unusual association with bright native copper growing in the center. We purchased this directly in Russia, in the early 2000s. valued $1500--2000