Covellite on Pyrite

Item Description

Covellites from Butte are some of the finest examples of the species extant. The size and quality of the crystals ranks in the upper tier of this copper sulfide. This piece is a beautiful and show miniature featuring a "rosette"-shaped group measuring 2.3 cm across, comprising thin iridescent purple-blue bladed crystals up to about 1.0 cm on edge, aesthetically perched on Pyrite. The piece actually sits on its own without the aid of a base or clay. Minor peripheral roughness can be seen on the edges were the piece was separated from the pocket wall, but overall it's in very good condition. Many of the Covellites from the East Colusa Mine that we've had over the years are simply massive "chunks", but to find a piece with such well-defined, individual CRYSTALS like this is rare. A choice miniature of this most classic material.
Originally from the collection of Harold G. Wilson.
Ex George Loud Collection No. 7254; 2681 MT.5. George (born August 16, 1942) is a well-known mineral collector from Washington, DC and South Carolina respectively, and was a patent lawyer by trade for over 50 years. He assembled one of the great mineral collections in the U.S., comprising worldwide specimens, and in later years he sold the worldwide specimens to focus on minerals of the United States, specifically locality suites with an emphasis on amazing representation of species while still maintaining fine quality. The specimens remarkably range from micros to all the way up to large cabinets in size. We recently acquired most of his impressive 9000+ piece collection, and the VAST majority of these pieces will be offered here in the auctions, as we feel that everyone deserves and equal opportunity at acquiring these important, well-documented and fine quality specimens for their collections.
See: https://mineralogicalrecord.com/biographies_labels/george-loud for more information