Tetrahedrite with Chalcopyrite circa 1800s, ex Halpern Collection

Item Description

The Herodsfoot Mine, best known for its world-class Bournonites, has also produced the best known old Tetrahedrite/Chalcopyrite combinations. What makes this miniature so unusual among these great combinations is that the Chalcopyrite is preferentially growing on the faces of the Tetrahedrites, rather than completely coating them. The Tetrahedrites themselves are copper-colored, and range up to 1 cm on edge. Likely mined during the mid-1800's, this venerable combination piece well-represents this famous old locality and they are seldom seen for sale, even in low quality. This one is actually aesthetic by modern standards, certainly over 150 years old! These are said to date from the early 1800s to late 1800s. Specimens of this material are often priced at European shows, particularly by the English specialist dealers, at thousands of pounds even for a small sample! To read more about this locality, be sure to check out the article in the Mineralogical Record, Volume 43, pp 411-486. There are numerous references to Jack and his collection in print, but perhaps a good tour of the collection and its history will help give perspective on just how good, and important, this collection is: https://www.irocks.com/the-jack-halpern-collection