NATIVE COPPER

SPECIMEN DESCRIPTION

This remarkable large miniature Native Copper from Australia's most famous mining region displays an extremely unusual herring-bone form. In fact, the whole specimen is remarkable in its crystallization and for its extremely unusual surface patina. At the opposite end to the dendritic, herring-bone form, the specimen widens where it is crystallized in a complex aggregate of intergrown elongated, almost prismatic, Native Copper crystals. This crystal form can be seen to start, almost in transition, at the tips of the herring-bone form. This is an exceptionally well-crystallized Native Copper from anywhere, but especially so from this Australian classic occurrence where Native Coppers are rare. Ex David Hardman collection, no. 2225.