Search Archived Mineral Specimens
- Availability
- Sold
- Locality
- Summitville dist., Rio Grande Co., Colorado, United States
- Formula
- CuS
- Size
- SmCabinet 8.5x6.5x4.5cm
- Tagged
- sulfide , copper
Hard to find these days, this Covellite is a thin platy crystal mass of virtually solid Covellite with an outer veneer or coating of gold Chalcopyrite.
- Availability
- Sold
- Locality
- Butte dist., Silver Bow Co., Montana, United States
- Formula
- CuS
- Size
- Cabinet 11x8x3.5cm
- Tagged
- sulfide , copper
There are several minerals on this specimen. The main minerals are Pyrite and Quartz. The Pyrite measures from 2-6mm and are modified cubic crystals with deep striations. On the Pyrite is an overgrowth of blue iridescent Covellite in tiny 1-2mm hexagonal plates. There are also small 1-2mm crude Bornite crystals with pseudo-cubic and octahedral forms. Also blurring the mineral paragenesis are what appears to be Chalcopyrite after Wurtzite. Chris van Laer mentions the Wurtzite and Bornite on his data card, but does not mention the Covellite. It's probable that what I see as Covellite may indeed be Wurtzite plates. All in all, it is an interesting assemblege of minerals to be studied.
