Covellite with Pyrite and Quartz

Item Description

Gorgeous, rosette-like cluster of highly iridescent Covellite from the well-known Leonard Mine in Butte, which sadly is now long-closed. The blades reach up to 1.8 cm, and they almost completely comprise this great miniature, accented with Pyrite and Quartz. The iridescence is amazing, bright, and plentiful, centered on light blues and magentas. Covellite crystals from Butte are highly coveted, and arguably the world's best for the species with only a few exceptions from Sardinia, but even those do not get as sharp and machined-looking as the best Butte specimens. The blades here are not as fully developed as some of the great Covellites you see from Butte in the magazines from museum collections, but nonetheless they come pretty close and my eyes opened wide when I first took the out of the box as I was greeted by the dazzling array of colors. This choice miniature is even better in person. It is from the Gene and Sally LaBerge collection. Most of these generally seem to have come onto the collector market in the 1960s-1970s although some could be older. Don Olson label noting povenance. Valued $2400-2750