Bornite aka Peacock Ore

Bornite is a favorite among children, the bornite chunks sold as "peacock ore" or alternatively "peacock copper" have a rich bouquet of colors. The colors are from an iridescent tarnish that forms on bornite upon exposure to air. The tarnish is made of assorted copper oxides or hydroxides that form a mere atoms thin layer over the bornite. The thickness of the layers is close to the wavelength of light.

When light waves bounce between the bornite surface and the top of the tarnish layer they will leave with the wavelengths of various colors. This effect is the same as the rainbow effect that occurs with oil on water. In the case of bornite, the tarnish will have a purplish, violet or blue color. Because bornite is often inter grown with chalcopyrite which tarnishes to more greens and yellows, the peacock ore may have many colors ranging from purple to blue to green to yellow.

Bornite is an important copper ore mineral and occurs widely in porphyry copper deposits along with the more common chalcopyrite. Chalcopyrite and bornite are both typically replaced by chalcocite and covellite in the supergene enrichment zone of copper deposits. Bornite is also found as disseminations in mafic igneous rocks, in contact metamorphic skarn deposits, in pegmatites and in sedimentary cupriferous shales.

It is important for its copper content of about 63 percent by mass and is found in Arizona, Butte, Montana, and Mexico. It's existence has been reported since 1725, but in 1845 it was named for Austrian mineralogist Ignaz Edler Von Born (1742–1791).

Bornite from Mexico
Bornite from Mexico
Bornite from Mexico
Bornite from Mexico
Bornite from Mexico
Bornite from Mexico Bornite from Mexico Bornite from Mexico Bornite from Mexico Bornite from Mexico
Item# A-BOR06172151

Bornite from Mexico

$30.00

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This specimen from Chihuahua, Mexico was collected in 2001 it weighs 11.3 oz or 0.7 lbs (320g) and measures 3.5 x 2.9 x 1.7 inches (8.9 x 7.3 x 4.3cm)

Classic Bornite from Butte, Montana
Classic Bornite from Butte, Montana
Classic Bornite from Butte, Montana
Classic Bornite from Butte, Montana Classic Bornite from Butte, Montana Classic Bornite from Butte, Montana
Item# B-BOR06170590

Classic Bornite from Butte, Montana

$25.00

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This specimen from Butte, Montana was collected in 1951

weighs 6.2 oz or 0.39 lbs (178g) and measures 3.2 x 206 x 1.4 inches (8.1 x 6.6 x 3.7cm)

Beautiful Iridescent Bornite

Beautiful Iridescent Bornite

from The Willard Elsing Collection
Locale: Bisbee Arizona

Beautiful Iridescent Bornite

Discover the wonder of God's natural art at the area's largest exhibit of priceless minerals and natural crystal formations. Willard Elsing opened a rock and mineral shop on Route 66 near Joplin in the 1920s, and over a lifetime, his fascination for mineral and rock art grew into an unprecedented collection.

Since 2001, his collection has been on display at Oral Roberts University for all to enjoy. Elsing Museum

7777 S. Lewis Ave. ORU Learning Resource Center Tulsa, OK 74171.
(918) 495-6262, elsing.oru.edu

Willard Elsing (1911-2004)

Willard L. Elsing, consummate rockhound and founder of the Elsing Museum in Tulsa, was born in Kansas on July 22, 1911, and died at the age of 93 on October 17, 2004. His father Walter had emigrated to America from Germany in 1890 and established a cleaning business in Pittsburg, Kansas in the 1920's. As a young boy Willard became fascinated with all sorts of local collectibles, including arrowheads, ethnic artifacts, rocks and (especially) minerals. In the 1930's he left home and opened a rock and mineral shop on Route 66 near the lead-mining center of Joplin, Missouri. Miners from throughout the Tri-State District brought him specimens which he bought for the shop, keeping many of the more interesting examples for his own growing collection. It was a great sadness to him when the Tri-State mines finally closed down.

Elsing favored crystal collecting above all, and was an aesthetic collector rather than a scientific one. He preferred to buy many of his specimens at minerals shows rather than obtain them by field-collecting. He recommended comparing prices carefully to avoid being overcharged, and advised, "When you find a dealer who will take a little time to help you, stick with him." He always made a habit of reinvesting profits from specimen sales in new specimens for his collection, and he recommended joining a local club to meet other collectors and potential buyers. Elsing always kept the original labels showing what he had paid for specimens, and he endeavored never to sell anything at less than its inflation-adjusted purchase price. In his 90's, he could still quote the purchase price of specimens he had bought in the 1930's.

In the early 1970's Elsing made the acquaintance of Evelyn Roberts at a seminar being held at Oral Roberts University, and eventually he agreed to transfer much of his huge collection to the Learning Resource Center of Oral Roberts University in the University Village retirement center. In 2001 the collection, still referred to as the Elsing Museum, was moved onto the campus of the university, where it can be seen today. Proudly dubbed "God's natural art museum" (Oral Roberts University is a religious institution), the museum exhibits over 3,000 specimens including a 2,900-carat Australian opal, slabs of scenic agate, Oriental jade work, Native American rarities, fossils, mineral art, and a great many attractive and interesting crystallized mineral specimens. In response to increasing visits by school groups, some new educational exhibits are planned for the future, including an indoor man-made cave. More information about the Elsing Museum at Oral Roberts University is available on the museum's website: http://elsing.oru.edu.

Reference: WILSON, W.E. (2005) Died, Willard L. Ellsing, 93. Mineralogical Record, 36, 140-141.

We were able to procure a few specimens from the famous Willard Elsing Collection. We obtained these specimens from a reputable rock and mineral wholesaler out of Keokuk Iowa who was selling off some of the collection pieces from the museum that would not be used in the museum collection. This is a once in a lifetime chance to have a piece of history. You will see Mr Elsing holding a sample on the Rockhound magazine cover. It is on a carved green foam display base. You will see our first and largest Bornite specimen on an identical green foam display with an original ID tag attached . His collecting period ran many decades starting in the 1920's.

These are the most pure Bornite specimens we have ever seen

Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (627g)
Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (627g)
Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (627g)
Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (627g)
Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (627g)
Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (627g)
Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (627g)
Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (627g)
Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (627g)
Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (627g)
Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (627g)
Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (627g)
Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (627g) Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (627g) Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (627g) Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (627g) Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (627g) Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (627g) Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (627g) Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (627g) Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (627g) Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (627g) Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (627g) Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (627g)
Item# BOR05091431

Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (627g)

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The old foam has disintegrated. The specimen is loose with foam layer glued onto the bottom of the specimen. Own a true piece of History!

Large Old Stock Iridescent Bornite Display on green foam base with old ID tag. This piece is from the Bisbee, Arizona area. This specimen from the Willard Elsing collection is a real treasure! Based upon information we obtained from historical Bisbee data, we believe these specimens were collected in the late 1940's to early 1950's. Foam and specimen will be shipped and can be displayed as shown in 1st photo.

weighs 1.38 lbs (627g) and measures 5 x 2.9 x 1.8 inches (127 x 74 x 46mm)

 

Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (146g)
Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (146g)
Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (146g)
Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (146g) Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (146g) Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (146g)
Item# 2BOR06173341

Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (146g)

$59.00

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Old Stock Iridescent Bornite Display.

This piece is from the Bisbee, Arizona area. This specimen from the Willard Elsing collection is a real treasure!

It weighs 5.1 oz or 0.32 lbs (146g) and measures 2.9 x 1.6 x 1.5 inches (7.5 x 4.2 x 4 cm)

Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (200g)
Bornite_Elsing_Bisbee_AZ__063
Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (200g)
Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (200g) Bornite_Elsing_Bisbee_AZ__063 Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (200g)
Item# 3BOR06174341

Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (200g)

$57.00

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Old Stock Iridescent Bornite Display.

This piece is from the Bisbee, Arizona area. This specimen from the Willard Elsing collection is a real treasure!

It weighs 7 oz or 0.44 lbs (200g) and measures 3.5 x 1.6 x 1.3 inches(89 x 42 x 33mm)

Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (227g)
Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (227g)
Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (227g)
Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (227g) Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (227g) Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (227g)
Item# 5BOR06173341

Iridescent Bornite from The Willard Elsing Collection (227g)

$56.00

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Old Stock Iridescent Bornite Display.

This piece is from the Bisbee, Arizona area. This specimen from the Willard Elsing collection is a real treasure!

It weighs 7.9 oz or 0.49 lbs (227g) and measures 2.5 x 1.8 x 1.5 inches (6.4 x 4.5 x 3.8 cm)

Iridescent Bornite (Peacock Ore) from Zacatecas Mexico
Iridescent Bornite (Peacock Ore) from Zacatecas Mexico
Iridescent Bornite (Peacock Ore) from Zacatecas Mexico
Iridescent Bornite (Peacock Ore) from Zacatecas Mexico
Iridescent Bornite (Peacock Ore) from Zacatecas Mexico
Iridescent Bornite (Peacock Ore) from Zacatecas Mexico
Iridescent Bornite (Peacock Ore) from Zacatecas Mexico
Iridescent Bornite (Peacock Ore) from Zacatecas Mexico
Iridescent Bornite (Peacock Ore) from Zacatecas Mexico Iridescent Bornite (Peacock Ore) from Zacatecas Mexico Iridescent Bornite (Peacock Ore) from Zacatecas Mexico Iridescent Bornite (Peacock Ore) from Zacatecas Mexico Iridescent Bornite (Peacock Ore) from Zacatecas Mexico Iridescent Bornite (Peacock Ore) from Zacatecas Mexico Iridescent Bornite (Peacock Ore) from Zacatecas Mexico Iridescent Bornite (Peacock Ore) from Zacatecas Mexico
Item# 6BOR03208881

Iridescent Bornite (Peacock Ore) from Zacatecas Mexico

$39.00

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Old Stock Iridescent Bornite Peacock Ore Display.

This piece is from Zacatecas, Mexico, collected during the 1990's. This has a vivid color splash of blue, green, purple, gold and reddish copper colors, Many specimens of "Peacock Ore" that are sold are said to be Chalcopyrite....True Peacock Ore is actually Bornite. Do not be fooled by cheap imitations

This colorful specimen of Bornite weighs 4.2 oz or 0.26 lbs (120g) and measures 2.3 x 1.6 x 1.45 inches (5.9 x 4.1 x 3.7 cm)