Cuprite, Copper

This specimen features, blood-red, sharp cuprite crystals perched on dendritic native copper. While the crystals are small, they exhibit exceptional clarity, brilliant lustre, and razor-sharp edges, with individual crystals reaching up to 2 mm in size. The crystals display fascinating geometric complexity, making this piece ideal for detailed examination under a loupe or microscope.

Cuprite specimens from the Ray Mine, Arizona, are widely regarded as some of the finest crystallized examples of the species from any Arizona locality. This particular piece, collected by John Mediz in 1978, was acquired by P. Tarassoff from the Copper City Rock Shop in Globe, Arizona that same year.

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This specimen comes from the collection of Dr. Peter Tarassoff, a prominent figure in mineralogy, particularly known for his work at Mont Saint-Hilaire (MSH). His diligent collecting and examination efforts have led him to be the first to identify at least 35 species and discover 12 new species, not only at MSH but also at other alkaline localities. Dubbed the "Dean" of Mont Saint-Hilaire collectors, Peter was honoured with the naming of the new species petarasite in 1980. He has authored or co-authored numerous mineralogical articles and has been a member of the Mineralogical Association of Canada since 1964. Additionally, Peter has volunteered at the Redpath Museum for the past 21 years, where he was formally appointed the Honorary Curator of Mineralogy. In recognition of his significant contributions to mineralogy, Peter was awarded the 2017 Pinch Medal.