|
|
|
Description
|
|
|
~
Campbellite copper cab ~
Offered here is a large, stupendous collector's cabochon of RARE campbellite. The original campbellite specimen I acquired was said to have been found decades ago at about the 1,800 foot level of the Campbell Mine in Bisbee, AZ, from which it takes its name. The mine was flooded many years back, so it's a very safe bet that no more campbellite will be available in the forseeable future. Most campbellite coveted by collectors was smuggled out as specimens in miner's lunchboxes, who risked their jobs carrying pieces to the surface rather than seeing them lost to the ore crushers.
This cabbed example obviously includes bright metallic native copper of high purity, visible as wild plumage that shoots through the stone. Campbellite is typically composed of a variety of minerals, but only rarely do any specimens ever show plumes. I, personally, have never seen any to rival this one, no kidding! Other smaller metallic plumes in this stone are grayish silver, probably a lead-zinc blend. Between the gleaming coppery plumes are splotches of red cuprite, and at the rounded end of the stone has a swath of lovely turquoise blue chrysocolla. There are also flecks of whitish calcite & quartz, and blackish tennorite & manganese too. It was a real challenge to photograph this beauty because cameras simply don't see like human eyes do. For the main photo and the 4th showing the backside, I used direct lighting. The second photo was taken with lighting both direct and reflected, while the 3rd and the last photo of the backside were taken in reflected light.
This stone is remarkably hefty in hand, surprisingly so, due to its high metallic content. It is cut in a smoothly rounded designer drop shape, with a nicely rounded dome of 5mm, beautifully polished both front and back.
Size: 56x24mm
Weight: approximately 133 carats
Price: SOLD See current gemstones for sale
 Campbellite
|
|
|
