Copper, Mount Isa, Queensland

Mineral Matters #195

I have continued going through specimens that have been neglected for some time.

One small lot that I came across, hidden away in a box, came from Charles Willett many years ago.

Charles passed away in late December, 2020, at the age of 90. Charles, who hailed from Fredericksburg, Virginia, had been in assisted living for his final four years. He was a keen micromounter and passionate rockhound for most of his adult years, and had acquired quite a collection.

In his late 70s and early 80s, he decided that he needed to move on much of his collection, and for a time, was selling lots on eBay. Each lot contained a box full of micros and/or thumbnail and miniature specimens. Charles sent the minerals packed in distinctive home-made paper covered cardboard boxes such as the one shown below.

Each box contained a variety of minerals from localities in the USA or from other parts of the world. You really didn’t know what you were getting until you received them.

This particular specimen, a copper from Mount Isa, Queensland, was in one of the boxes. I really like the parallel growth of the crystals, and haven’t seen another quite like it before. Thank you Charles.

Below: Copper, Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia. 7mm wide specimen. Click on the image for a higher resolution version. 

Below: One of Charles Willett’s boxes.

Below: Charles Edwin Willett (December 6, 1930 - December 27, 2020).