$650Median
110Sold (12 mo)
$650Last sale
Cuprite from Chessy, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
Help improve this record
No owner is registered for this specimen yet. If it's yours or you know more about it, you can add the owner, provenance, publications and other details.
Classic French thumbnail specimen with a grouping of sharp octahedral malachite crystals, these in the process of being replaced by light green crystalline malachite. No matrix, this is in super condition.The copper deposits of Chessy in eastern France feature mineralization hosted within sedimentary and volcanic rock formations, where circulating fluids concentrated copper in oxidation zones. Mining activity at the site dates back to Roman times and continued intermittently through the Middle Ages until operations ceased in 1875. The locality gained world renown among mineral collectors following the nineteenth-century opening of the Blue Mine, which produced exceptional, highly prized specimens of deep blue copper carbonate crystals alongside associated secondary copper minerals.Specimens of malachite after cuprite from the historic copper mines of Chessy, France, are celebrated mineral classics featuring sharp, well-formed crystal shapes like octahedra. In these pieces, the original copper oxide mineral has been entirely or partially replaced by green copper carbonate, preserving the distinct geometric habit of the precursor crystals while transforming their color into a rich, velvety green. These rare pseudomorphs are highly prized by collectors worldwide for their exceptional historical significance and striking aesthetic appeal.
Product details
SizeThumbnail
Dimensions1.8 x 1.5 x 1.0 cm
Added on10/07/2026
LocalityFrance, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Chessy
Current owner
Unknown Owner
- Acquired
- Oct 2026
Previous owners
| Date | Collector | Acquisition price |
|---|---|---|
| — | Weinrich Minerals | Not disclosed |
Learn more
Mineral guide
Learn about Cuprite
ruby-red copper oxide crystals with brilliant luster, from cubes to octahedra, prized for color, rarity, and historic collecting appeal.Regional guide
Comments