Chalcopyrite (Ref: 6149)

This is a classic and extremely typical Chalcopyrite specimen from the venerable Friedrich-Wilhelm Mine near Biersdorf in the Siegerland District, which worked Iron-Copper ores. It is typical because of its lustrous golden, slightly distorted crystals with some wonderful reddish tarnish. The iridescence of these specimens are the most striking colors from deep red to green to blue. The Chalcopyrite abundantly cover matrix of Limonite-coated sparkling Quartz. The colors of the tarnish are very subtle, which is proof that they were not artificially “enhanced” by cooking in a laundry detergent solution. That process creates a blinding metallic luster, and the specimens were called “Persilsteine” for a common laundry detergent brand.In this extraordinary, almost perfect form, these specimens have now become rare, as Friedrich-Wilhelm was on of the last of many mines in the Siegerland District that was closed in 1965.