Calcite, Copper: Quincy mine, Hancock, Houghton County, Michigan USA

Description

Species: Calcite, Copper

Locality: Quincy mine, Hancock, Houghton County, Michigan USA

Dimensions: 6.7 x 5.5 x 3.5 cm.

SOLD

Copper-included calcite crystals from the Michigan Copper Country are some of the most sought-after calcites on earth for good reason- they are incredibly aesthetic, often water-clear and lustrous, and can be highly-complex in terms of form. Good undamaged large examples are very scarce on the market these days, as most are either squirreled away in museum or private collections, or are heavily damaged from when they were sometimes carelessly collected in the 19th and early 20th centuries. This superb example features a glassy, totally-transparent doubly-terminated 5.5 cm crystal on minor epidote and basalt matrix, with an accenting smaller ~2.3 cm copper-included calcite. The large crystal has slightly frosted lower faces and totally gem-clear upper faces which allow a “window” into the “optically-clear” interior studded with small copper inclusions. A real Michigan classic in fine condition all-around. Annette Slade photo. Classic!