| Copper |
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| Item# CU07113355 Rare Cubic Copper Crystal Specimen from Arizona $120.00 |
Native Copper as an ore mineral is very rare throughout the world, although minor occurrences of the mineral are
widespread. The aggregate form of copper is highly variable and a number of distinctive types have been recognized.
Native copper (copper found in a chemically uncombined state) has been mined for centuries and now is all but
depleted as an economically viable ore. Other copper minerals are far more economical to mine and purify into metallic
copper that is used for wiring, electrical components, pennies and other coins, tubing and many other applications.
Native copper is still found in limited quantities in once-active mining regions. These finds are now valuable as
mineralogical specimens and ornamental pieces.
Fine specimens only rarely demonstrate crystal faces and these are prized above similar specimens.
The greatest Native Copper Ore Deposits ever found anywhere in the world and mined profitably were those of the
Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The Michigan Native Copper mineral deposit occurs in a belt about
110 miles long with a average width of around 10 miles. The Copper mineral occurs in amygadaloids, conglomerates
and fissures, and has been found in size from microscopic grains to very large masses (Mass Copper) of up to around
1,200,000 pounds. Float Copper is found in mass throughout the Midwest and was deposited by the glaciers that
moved the Copper masses from the Michigan Copper Country.
At the turn of the century, the community of Bisbee, located just east of the Mule Mountains in southeastern Arizona,
reigned as one of the premiere copper mining towns in the world. In 1877, Bisbee's Copper Queen Mine opened where
miners would extract over eight billion pounds of copper, almost 3 million ounces of gold and over 7.5 million ounces of
silver before the close of the mine in 1975.
Native Copper sometimes has Silver Inclusions and is locally called a Half breed. Native Copper has been
classified into 14 different Copper forms of occurrence and can occur in 6 Copper crystal habits.
widespread. The aggregate form of copper is highly variable and a number of distinctive types have been recognized.
Native copper (copper found in a chemically uncombined state) has been mined for centuries and now is all but
depleted as an economically viable ore. Other copper minerals are far more economical to mine and purify into metallic
copper that is used for wiring, electrical components, pennies and other coins, tubing and many other applications.
Native copper is still found in limited quantities in once-active mining regions. These finds are now valuable as
mineralogical specimens and ornamental pieces.
Fine specimens only rarely demonstrate crystal faces and these are prized above similar specimens.
The greatest Native Copper Ore Deposits ever found anywhere in the world and mined profitably were those of the
Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The Michigan Native Copper mineral deposit occurs in a belt about
110 miles long with a average width of around 10 miles. The Copper mineral occurs in amygadaloids, conglomerates
and fissures, and has been found in size from microscopic grains to very large masses (Mass Copper) of up to around
1,200,000 pounds. Float Copper is found in mass throughout the Midwest and was deposited by the glaciers that
moved the Copper masses from the Michigan Copper Country.
At the turn of the century, the community of Bisbee, located just east of the Mule Mountains in southeastern Arizona,
reigned as one of the premiere copper mining towns in the world. In 1877, Bisbee's Copper Queen Mine opened where
miners would extract over eight billion pounds of copper, almost 3 million ounces of gold and over 7.5 million ounces of
silver before the close of the mine in 1975.
Native Copper sometimes has Silver Inclusions and is locally called a Half breed. Native Copper has been
classified into 14 different Copper forms of occurrence and can occur in 6 Copper crystal habits.
| Small Dendritic Leaf Copper from Bisbee Arizona $10.00 |
| Small Dendritic Leaf Copper Specimen This piece comes from Bisbee Arizona. A very nice specimen of leaf copper. This specimen weighs 0.08 oz (2g) and measures 1.5 x 0.9 x 0.1 inches (38 x 23 x 2.5mm) |
| The copper is extremely WELL CRYSTALLIZED with a number of small but distinct CUBIC CRYSTALS - probably the rarest and most desirable crystal habit of copper. Specimens of this quality are rarely available on the open market. We picked up this fabulous specimen in a newly acquired group of minerals from this collector who has been collecting for decades. We are thrilled to be offering material of this caliber that comes from a fine collection. We are not sure of the locale of the mine but were told by the previous owner that it came from Arizona many years ago. This wonderful specimen has in matrix with the copper the beginnings of Malachite (green) and a mix of quartz crystalline formations with one very distinct and very clear quartz point which is shown in the pictures. This specimen also has what appears to be lavender fluorite mixed into the matrix. A very unique copper cabinet specimen that weighs 0.67 lbs (304g) and measures 3.1 x 2.4 x 2.3 inches (81 x 61 x 58mm). A very nice mix of several different forms including pellets, crystals, leafs and more. |
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| Item# CU07119550 Native Copper from the Caledonia Mine in Ontonagon County, Michigan $32.00 |
| Item# CU07118550 Native Copper 2 from the Caledonia Mine in Ontonagon County, Michigan $24.00 |
| Bright Native Copper in matrix with Epidote from the famous Caledonia Native Copper Mine near Ontonagon, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula. The mine is owned by Red Metal Minerals Specimen weighs 1.56 oz (44g) and Measures 1.8 x 1 x 1 inches (48 x 26 x 26mm) |
| Bright Native Copper in matrix with Epidote from the famous Caledonia Native Copper Mine near Ontonagon, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula. The mine is owned by Red Metal Minerals Specimen weighs 1.16 oz (33g) and Measures 1.8 x 1.4 x 0.48 inches (47 x 36 x 12mm) |
14 Different Forms of Copper
1. Grains, Blebs, Pellets,Masses. Anhedral to subhedral.
2 .Masses. The larger pieces commonly are very irregular with hackly appearance.
3. Crystals and crystal groups.
4. Networks. Interconnecting irregular veinlets, sheets, plates and aggregates.
5. Thin sheets. Formed particularly in thin fissures.
6. Filiform or wire.
7. Arborescent. Three dimensional fern like groups. Some variants are called moss copper.
8. Leaf. Dendritic aggregates flattened in one plain.
9. Brick. Massive, replacing red amygadaloids.
10. Shell. Moulds of boulders and cobbles. Also called skull copper
11. Shot. Coarse powder.
12. Spike. Also called copper nails .
13. Pseudo morphs. Replacement of feldspar, Barite, calcite crystals and boulders.
14. Half breed. Irregular inter grown masses of copper and silver.
6 Copper crystal habits
1. Cube
2. Dodecahedron\par
3. Octahedron
4. Tetrahexahedrons (most common)
5. Trisoctahedrons
6. Hex octahedron's
1. Grains, Blebs, Pellets,Masses. Anhedral to subhedral.
2 .Masses. The larger pieces commonly are very irregular with hackly appearance.
3. Crystals and crystal groups.
4. Networks. Interconnecting irregular veinlets, sheets, plates and aggregates.
5. Thin sheets. Formed particularly in thin fissures.
6. Filiform or wire.
7. Arborescent. Three dimensional fern like groups. Some variants are called moss copper.
8. Leaf. Dendritic aggregates flattened in one plain.
9. Brick. Massive, replacing red amygadaloids.
10. Shell. Moulds of boulders and cobbles. Also called skull copper
11. Shot. Coarse powder.
12. Spike. Also called copper nails .
13. Pseudo morphs. Replacement of feldspar, Barite, calcite crystals and boulders.
14. Half breed. Irregular inter grown masses of copper and silver.
6 Copper crystal habits
1. Cube
2. Dodecahedron\par
3. Octahedron
4. Tetrahexahedrons (most common)
5. Trisoctahedrons
6. Hex octahedron's
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