Leaf Copper

Item Description

Rich and bright copper patina on this sculptural pair of paper-thin native copper leaves from the well-known and extinct White Pine Mine of Copper Country. The showy piece looks great from either side. Native copper was deposited in shale beds of the Nonesuch Shale, explaining the sheet-like form. The mine was the only major producer from the Nonesuch Shale in Copper Country. The rest of the mines produced copper and silver from fissures, amygdaloidal basalt and conglomerate. The White Pine was the last major copper mine to close in the historic Copper Country in 1995. Very lightweight, mass is only 5 grams. Ex Dan Behnke Collection of Chicago, a well-known Michigan and micro collector. He is also in the Micro Hall of Fame. Leaf copper of small cabinet size is very uncommon from the White Pine Mine, as most such specimens are quite large.