Detailed information
Dimensions
78 x 97 x 51
mm
Weight
404 g
Locality
Butte Silver Bow County Montana, USA
Condition
No recorded repairs
Covelline, or Covellite as it is also known, is a relatively widespread copper sulphide species typically associated with near surface supergene enrichment zones in copper deposits, but visible crystals are actually quite rare. Butte in Silver Bow County, Montana is widely regarded as having produced the world's finest Covelline crystals, many of which were found during the early 20th century at Leonard mine. The difference between Butte Covelline and that from elsewhere is its remarkable size, as large, scaly, sectile crystal aggregates, but also their fantastic mottled golden to rainbow colours. This colourful and showy specimen is remarkable for its size, meaning that is could easily be placed on display. There is some age-related cracking, but this is an exceptionally rare larger specimen. The finely laminated sheets of Covelline are interspersed with small golden crystals of Pyrite with the Covelline presenting beautiful peacock-like colours, particulary purples and indigo-blue. A North American classic from Butte.
