NATIVE COPPER

Copper skulls such as this one are formations exclusive to the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan, and formed when hydrothermally deposited copper grew around felsite that later weathered away and left behind these hollow casts. While most other copper skulls one can find are small, incomplete fragments, this one stands apart with its completeness and ideal form, reminding one of a medieval helmet. All around the surface is a fantastic patina and green growths of other copper mineralization, with fragments of felsite still embedded on the inside and outside. Truly a museum-quality example of these unique natural sculptures and, with all of the aforementioned attributes,  possibly one of the finest ever found. This specimen was formerly in the celebrated precious metals collection of  the late Dan R. Kennedy, and comes with a custom engraved display base. Oddly enough, the engraving displays the wrong locality name, mentioning the Homestake #4 Mine in Keweenaw County rather than the Centennial Mine in Houghton County (this typo may have been made due to the Centennial Mine being formerly owned by the Homestake Mining Company).