Copper Included in Calcite With Copper

This is a most unique copper-in-calcite specimen. It is a 7 cm rhomb of copper included calcite, well terminated and colored bright pink by the rich inclusions. RHombohedral crystals are rare for the region, and large pseudocubic ones even more so. The crystal is complete on the display faces, though contacted naturally on the upper face. It is hard to tell how much of the backside is contact or cleaved, but there is some roughness in the back regardless (luckily, it doesn't show from front views). In addition, there are five calcite crystal scalenohedra to 1.5 cm, along with native copper, girdling the base. Because they are of more normal habit, and less included than the earlier generation of rhombohedral calcite, they provide a really nice accent to highlight the big crystal and emphasize its weirdness. Lastly, the large, pseudo cubic calcite also appears to be doubly terminated so it is complete on all sides but the back face.

Unknown Owner

Product details

Species

Copper, Calcite

SizeSmall Cabinet

Dimensions6.8 x 4.1 x 3.1 cm

Locality

USA, Michigan, Quincy Mine

Added on10/23/2024

Comments

Known provenance

2024/08