Cuprite var. Chalcotrichite

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This fine and historic large miniature of Chalcotrichite, the carmine red, acicular variety of Cuprite, is accompanied by three labels; those of the Mike Brooke Mineral Collection; a Mike Merry stock label and a fairly detailed, yet unprovenanced, USA collector’s typed label, dated April 7, 1990. The latter reads “Mats of red hair-like fibrous crystals lining vugs in massive brown-black matrix. 2x2.5”. Micro potential. Matrix is largely a weathered Chalcopyrite. A real old-timer (c. 1858).” Overleaf it continues “Purchased for $20.00 from Gerber Minerals at the Boron show. (new dealer from Garden Grove, So. Cal.).” Next, two former accompanying older labels are described but, sadly, these are no longer with this specimen. One of these reads “Old beautifully hand-printed label states this is an R. Talling specimen, c. 1858, from the “190-fathom level”. Richard Talling was the most important of all nineteenth-century Cornish mineral dealers and in 1844 established his shop, named “The Fancy Repository” on the corner of Queen Street and Fore Street in Lostwithiel. The shop remains there to this day, but now deals in wedding dresses; excellent news for brides to be, but heartbreaking for collectors!