Native Copper: Tur’inskii mine, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia

Description

Species: Native Copper

Locality: Tur’inskii mine, Tur’insk, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia

Dimensions: 9 x 4.5 x 3.7 cm.

SOLD

The Tur’inskii mine, a true “Dana Locality” for Native Copper, has been producing fine copper specimens since the 17th Century or perhaps even earlier, and is one of the most classic localities in the world for this species. Good specimens from this ancient, and now long-closed Russian mining district are seldom seen on the market today, as most good ones are in private collections or museums. This is a fine cabinet-size specimen of very well-crystallized copper showing spinel twinning and well-developed “herringbone” style crystallization. This superb native copper is from the “K.K. Mineralogisches Museum” in Berlin (also known as the National Imperial Collection), and carries a label from approximately 1860. A de-accession stamp from the museum is on the back of this label, and handwritten notation on the front of the label seems to suggest the specimen was originally acquired by the museum in 1844(?). A fantastic native copper from a super-classic locality, with great provenance. Ex. Tom Rosemeyer collection. Mark Cross photo.