URI3 Silver, Copper ps. Cuprite
Poteryaevskoe Mine, Altaiskiy Kray, Western Siberian Region, Russia 5.1x 4.2x 2.8 cm
5.1x 4.2x 2.8 cm
$1200
A cluster of copper psudomorphs after cuprite octahedrons, with a small bit of associated silver. The silver is best visible in the image directly below this description, on the top right area of the specimen. The individual crystals reach 1.8 cm.
This area has been producing cuprite for about 3 years now, but in 2011 there were also finds of these very interesting pseudomorphs. The prices on these things have been consistently high-- unlike the cuprites which came out in massive quantities (and whose prices have moderated somewhat as a result), these pseudomorphs were only found towards the end of work in the cuprite-bearing zone (which is now finished), and in relatively small quantities. In other words, these wont get any cheaper, only more expensive.