Sphalerite with Chalcopyrite

Item Description

A classic specimen of crystallized Sphalerite with Chalcopyrite from the famed Joplin Field in the Tri-State District of Missouri. This full cabinet-sized specimen is essentially a solid group of dark reddish-brown "Ruby Jack" Sphalerite, showing tetrahedral form with little growth "hillocks" on the faces, which play host to tiny metallic brassy Chalcopyrites scattered all over the surface. The Sphalerites are actually a bit gemmy in areas when backlit, and I can see little deep reddish and golden zones of color here and there. The Chalcopyrites have a directional luster, so the piece shimmers when rotated in the light, as all of the Chalcos light up at the same time when the piece is viewed at just the right angle. No damage on the display side of the piece, it's only contacted on the back where it was separated from the pocket wall. It's a very nice example of this classic material that is not nearly as available on the market as it was decades ago. Originally from the collection of Clifford J. Krueger.
From the collection of Jack Halpern No. 3189. Jack was born May 18, 1920 in Brooklyn, New York, but has been a long-time resident of San Francisco. He assembled one of the great mineral collections in the world encompassing over 3,200 specimens with a specific emphasis on color, quality, and style/aesthetics, which is evident in every piece. He admired specimens of all sizes from thumbnails to large cabinets and the vast majority of them rank from fine to world-class in their quality.
Above all else, Jack is considered to be the greatest gentleman in the modern era of mineral collecting. He is beloved by all those who have met him, and he truly is one of the most iconic figures in the mineral world. We recently acquired Jack's collection, and the VAST majority of these pieces will be offered here in the auctions, as we feel that everyone deserves and equal opportunity at acquiring these important, well-documented and fine quality pieces for their collections. We are honored to have the opportunity to offer Jack's treasures to everyone on a regular basis in the auctions.
We encourage you to read our blog post at https://www.irocks.com/the-jack-halpern-collection or his profile on the Mineralogical Record website https://mineralogicalrecord.com/biographies_labels/halpernjack/ for more information