Lake Superior Copper District, Michigan, USA

This specimen has some nice, well-defined crystal faces. The crystals grew around some other crystals (possibly quartz) creating casts. Some of the material is still present and is the white to gray in the photos. The specimen has been cleaned in HCl which has cleaned off any tarnish giving it the bright color. It has also been dipped in a matt finish lacquer which perserve it's color. Many purist copper collectors abhor this practice. On the other hand, it might have been completely green when it was found. It is from a lot I purchased of crystal copper specimens, all of which were prepared in this manner. Because of this, and lack of a specific location, the price is considerably less, but quite reasonable for the quality exhibited by many of the crystal faces.

14 x 2.5 x 1.2 cm

Sold Specimen retained as part of the Minerals Sold But Not Forgotten Galleries