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Identity HelpNative Utah Copper?

3rd May 2011 05:06 UTCRocky Barney

Hi All....

Recently I have had the honor of going through some of my late fathers material. The only thing is, the labeling is atrocious! This specimen, that I think is copper, (please correct me if I am wrong), was labeled Utah. Nothing else on the tag. He had worked in the Bluebird tunnel at the Kimberly Mines, (Tushars), for gold. The rest of his mining years were spent prospecting and mining uranium. Not any copper that I am aware of.

The specimen measures 4" by 3 1/4" by 3/4" thick. It is extremely heavy for its size, and appears to be copper in color where it has not oxidized to green. The first pick is a close up, and the second a photo of the complete specimen. It has roughly the same look on both sides.

Two questions....First of all, is it native copper?.....Next, if so, does anyone have an idea of which mine it was collected at?

Thank you to all in advance,

Rocky
The best rock I ever found was the one I just picked up!

3rd May 2011 11:19 UTCRock Currier Expert

Sure looks like a copper specimen partially altered to malachite. Take the tip of a knife blade and see if you can scratch way some of the malachite on a part of the specimen that won't subtract from its value and see if you can expose the bright copper below the malachite.

3rd May 2011 14:52 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager

Looks like a piece of native copper from the SX/EW Process of extraction. My guess is that if it's from Utah, it's likely from Bingham Canyon.

3rd May 2011 18:03 UTCRocky Barney

Thanks guys....It does show copper beneath the oxidation. My guess was Bingham canyon mine also...my father probably got it from my uncle that worked there for 30+ years....

Thanks again,

Rock
The best rock I ever found was the one I just picked up!

3rd May 2011 21:39 UTCRock Currier Expert

I don't think I have ever seen a copper like that from Bingham. I wonder it is might be the product of a smelter that has altered a bit to malachite?, but I don't know Bingham minerals all that well.

3rd May 2011 21:43 UTCRocky Barney

Niether do I....I had an uncle that worked there in the mine itself, but he is deceased as well. I guess I may be stuck with the label as my father had it..."Utah".....

Rock
The best rock I ever found is the one I just picked up!

4th May 2011 00:02 UTCRick Dalrymple Expert

I've never seen native copper like that from Bingham, not that that means much. I have seen similar from the LaSal mountains.

I have seen a lot of smelter (roast) copper like that from Bingham. I once acquired a collection of about 500 pounds of smelter copper, much like your pictures Rocky.

4th May 2011 00:35 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager

In case you were wondering, SX/EW is short for Solvent extraction/electrowinning, which is a two-stage process that first extracts and upgrades copper ions from low-grade leach solutions into a concentrated electrolyte, and then deposits pure copper onto cathodes using an electrolytic procedure. Many times, copper rosettes will form on the edges of the sheets which have to be hacked off before shipment. These scrap pieces of copper used to be given out on the tours at Morenci; not sure if they did at Bingham Canyon though.

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