NATIVE COPPER

SPECIMEN DESCRIPTION

This large cabinet display specimen of Native Copper is a surprise to the touch. It is remarkably light, being made of a thin layer of Native Copper, twisted and deformed into a sculptural mass. It is from Ray mine in the wonderful sounding Dripping Spring Mts., Pinal Co., Arizona, a mine famed for fabulous Native Copper specimens. This one is less obviously crystallized, looking more like sheet metal, but under a microscope there is no doubting the compact dendritic/arborescent form of the Native Copper with white host rock dispersed throughout. The surface of the Native Copper is mottled between prominent bright metallic orange, reddish, possibly Cuprite-coated patches and duller orange-brown tarnished areas. Ex David Hardman collection, no. 60, his label uses the old-fashioned cartwheel symbol to indicate that this specimen was on display.