Bornite Crystal, Mindola open pit, Rokana Mine, Zambia

We strive to offer our customers rare and unique minerals. This specimen certainly fits that profile: a bornite crystal! Yes, bornite is a relatively common copper sulphide (commonly known as "peacock ore") but have you ever seen a crystal of this mineral? At first glance this specimen is clearly crystalized but the colour suggests chalcopyrite (another copper sulphide), however two sides of the specimen (especially the basal contact) show the golden colour is only skin deep. The interior of the specimen is, in fact, bornite of a deep, metallic purple! The conchoidal fracture is a match for bornite as well. The golden surface colour may actually be chalcopyrite but we have not conducted any tests to confirm this. Not only are crystals of bornite rare, but the size of this crystal is impressive too. Note the small euhedral quartz crystal attached to one face of the bornite for added interest. This specimen was collected in the 1980s and was recently in the Allan Ingelson collection. See the November-December 1978 issue of Mineralogical Record (Volume 9, Number 6). From the Mindola open pit, Rokana Mine, Zambia. Dimensions: 2 cm x 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm