Sharp Copper xls w/ Calcite

Item Description

An impressive, superbly crystallized for the locale, two-sided native copper from the famous White Pine Mine of Michigan. Copper comes in many forms and shapes and this is certainly one of the more spectacular miniature specimens, that I have seen. The impressive arborescent form of this flattened piece is very sculptural, artistic, but the highlight of this piece are the very sharp, elongated spinel-twinned crystal "branches" with sharp tetrahexahedral "leaves". The crystallized copper has a very nice patina with colorful iridescence. The embedded glassy calcite is a nice accent. Molten copper was deposited along bedding planes of the Nonesuch Shale and that is why specimens from this mine are typically flat. Few pieces, though, have this kind of aesthetics and sharp branching crystals! Older material. Highly valued.