NATIVE Copper

$3,000.00

$40.00 shipping
Seller offers an extended return window of up to 30 days
Ships from USA

Crystal ClassicsFeatured

Tucson, Arizona, USA

7,543 for sale·132 sold

This robust, cabinet-sized, crystallized Native Copper from Keweenaw County, Michigan has a very sculptural look to it, standing nicely as two 'branches' but one with a tail splaying off downwards. Michigan is of course world famous for its Native Copper specimens, the best of which, like this one, feature clear distinct blocky crystals of Native Copper, rather than just sheets of metal. The crystals on this specimen are elongated and co-joined, possibly in the Spinel-Law habit. This specimen also displays a fine old patina on the surface of the Native Copper. An old accompanying Deyrolle label from Paris is not from the early generations of this long-lived French natural history dealers, but probably from the early- to mid-20th century. Copper mining in Keweenaw County can be traced back to Native Americans over 6000 years ago, but it was the influx of European settlers who started deeper mining, leading to a 'copper rush' during the mid 19th century, eventually, resulting in Michigan producing almost all of the United States' copper during the early 20th century.