Cuprite (antique old finds) Roger Maynard Coll.

Item Description

A 2.0 cm sharp doubly terminated cuprite octahedron is the highlight of this showy and rich miniature from the famous Mashamba West Mine. Smaller crystals are complex cuboctahedrons and octahedrons. The crystals are nicely set in a matrix of chrysocolla and calcite. The bright metallic crystals appear to be opaque in normal light, but bright light reveals areas of wine-red color. Backlighting reveals the true nature of this impressive crystal, as it GLOWS with gorgeous cherry-red color. This mine is one of the world's great cuprite localities, along with other copper mines in Congo, the Kombat Mine in Namibia, Bisbee, Chessy (pseudomorphs) and the Rubtsovsk Mine in Russia. This piece is from the well-known 1980s finds and there have been none since. Ex Roger Maynard Collection. Classic cuprite from Mashamba West, and these deep cherry-red crystals usually are priced at shows in the $1000-2000 range..