important Copper with Calumetite (RARE - Type Locality)

Item Description

This sharp, important piece is dominated by the 2.2 cm, very sharp, freestanding, tapered tetrahexahedral crystal, but there is also a larger 2.8 cm crystal in the piece as well. The large and famous old Centennial Mine was organized in 1863 and operated intermittentely until 1966 from seven shafts (MINDAT). A RARE and impressive copper combination from Copper Country. Patches and seams of pretty powder-blue Calumetite microcrytals, a very rare hydrated Cu-hydroxide (Type Locality), are richly scattered on the bottom of this crystallized copper. Along with green epidote it adds much contrast to the rich patina of the lustrous copper at the bottom. The Calumetite alone here is SIGNIFICANT and to some people may be worth more than the copper itself. It is a $2500-plus specimen, easily, if shown at Tucson or any major show, to sopisticated copper collectors.