NATIVE SILVER and NATIVE COPPER with CALCITE and EPIDOTE

SPECIMEN DESCRIPTION

This very rich large miniature to small cabinet specimen from Seneca mine near Allouez Township in Keweenaw County, Michigan demonstrates the apparent incompatibility of copper and silver metal within a geological environment. Both metals can of course be alloyed artificially, but within this specimen the contrast in colour and sharp divide between copper-orange Native Copper and silvery-white Native Silver is very clear. In fact, this divide is displayed in both hackly Native Copper and Native Silver as well as in larger discrete individual crystals of both metals. The host white Milky Quartz provides a nice contrasting backdrop and itself containing inclusions of pistachio-green Epidote. A lovely Keweenaw classic. Ex David Hardman collection, no. 3232.