Native copper is a term for Copper metal (Cu) that forms in nature as opposed to human refining of copper ore. Native copper is rarely associated with agate - copper agates from Michigan and Campbellite from the Bisbee Mine in Arizona are the only two examples that come to mind and specimens are hard to come by.
In late 2018, local miners discovered a deposit of copper minerals on the island of Obi in North Maluku Indonesia. Over the past few years, they have hand-dug 20 holes on a small 30 square yard mining area. Several of the holes have produced chrysocolla and native copper specimens of varying quality. Just one of the excavations produced spectacular botryoidal (bubble like) agate formations with native copper inclusions. When cut, they reveal clear agate with bars and plumes of bright copper and colors of blue, red and yellow in the agate. The colors are formed by secondary copper minerals like cuprite and chrysocolla. The result is a stone unlike any other that cuts some unbelievable gems. We were able to source some uncut rough from this find and have a limited supply of rough and slabs available. We treat the slabs with Hxtal, a museum-grade water-clear epoxy to stabilize any hidden fractures and make the material more durable for cutting and wearing.
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