Copper ("fire coral") (unique locality specimen)

Corocoro District, Pacajes Province, La Paz Department, Bolivia
Large Cabinet, 18.3 x 11.3 x 2.0 cm
Start Time: 06/06/2019 6:45:00 pm (CDT)
End Time: 06/13/2019 6:45:00 pm (CDT)
Auction Closed

Item Description

Corocoro is famous for the fact that is the source of the famous Copper pseudomorphs after Aragonite, which are not found anywhere else in the world. With that said, it is rather difficult to to find non-pseudomorphic, crystalline native Copper from this locality. Here we have a gorgeous, aesthetic, large cabinet sized display specimen of Copper in a unique formation that resembles organic sea life, like fire coral. This is one of only a select few pieces that I have seen like this from Corocoro. It was mined in 2010, and I have not seen others like it since. On both sides of the piece, you can see a dark reddish spots Cuprite with a bit of blue green Malachite here and there. This piece is one of the more interesting and one-of-a-kind specimens from Corocoro that I have offered due to it's wonderful shape. You just don't see Bolivian Coppers like this on the market, and we may never see them again as I was told that the locality was purchased by a Korean mining company, so collecting and obtaining specimens will become very difficult in the future, as they're melting down every piece of Copper they find. If you're a Copper collector, I'm certain that you do not have one of these in your collection, and if you just like interestingly shaped pieces, this is a must have. Priced in the inventory at $1,000.

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