Copper xls w/ Cuprite (old classic) ex. Private collection

Item Description

Striking and sculptural two-sided copper from the famous Phoenix Mine. Cuprite, a commmon accessory at the Phoenix gives this very well-crystallized piece a nice patina. The top of the wedge-shaped piece is fantastically accented by the isolated 2.5 cm "smokestack" of stacked tetrahexahedral crystals, higlighted by the striking 1.1 cm, hoppered crystal at the tip. Both sides are composed of densely intergrown, arborescent clusters of sharp tetrahexahedrons with overall spinel-twin forms. The Phoenix Mine was mainly a fissure mine, but it also worked the nearby Ashbed Amygdaloid. Classic and excellent old-time Copper Country material on consignment from a private Michigan collection who gave it to us to auction for quick sale. Fairly valued at $1750-2000 based on other specimens of this classic style on the market at shows. Superb crystallized copper!