Chalcopyrite with Carrollite and Calcite - image 1

Chalcopyrite with Carrollite and Calcite - image 2

Chalcopyrite with Carrollite and Calcite - image 4

Chalcopyrite with Carrollite and Calcite

Unknown Owner

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A sharp crystal of chalcopyrite that, personally, I consider among the finest in size class for sharp form, color, and stunning contrast as it sits perched in calcite matrix. The crystal is 2.7 x 1.7 x 1.2 cm in size and just looks carved, perfectly preserved and sitting in matrix with calcite and a small bit of carrollite. While chalcopyrite is a common enough species, it seldom forms as isolated, textbook geometric crystals. This crystal looks like it was simply carved from glowing bronze - it is so sharp, it is hard to believe that it is real. Bill Pinch was a legendary collector, brilliant mineralogist who could identify the rare and unusual by sight; and a superb mentor to myself and many others. He had some strange love of bornites and all sulfides, and this specimen comes from a famous carrollite locality that was collected in the 1980s...and they can be quite valuable, but he treasured this rare specimen from the place more than any carrollite. I believe he bought this, as much because it was not a carrollite, as because it was something else magnificent from his favorite carrollite location; and would stump many people on the ID. I always loved this specimen in Bill's collection and it was the last deal we made (an exchange) before he passed away; and the rest of his collection was donated to Harvard Museum. It is by no means a bargain but it IS one of the finest and most fun sulfide miniatures I have handled, any price aside. It is a magnificent miniature of competition quality that I have treasured for decades since I first saw it.