What To Cut- Covellite

Covellite is one of those materials that has no real use, except to a rock collector or lapidary!

- Russ Kaniuth

It’s a copper mineral that is found in various spots around the world, but collectors’ favorite source is the Leonard mine, in Butte, Montana. Its main attraction is its iridescent, metallic indigo blue color, accented by pyrite streamers, which usually run through it. It has become exceedingly rare and quite pricey, but the beauty of this material always entices collectors and lapidary artists into buying it any chance they get. When buying covellite for lapidary purposes, I suggest buying precut slabs. This way you can see what you are getting for the price you will be paying. Normally, it is a very fractured material, but if the pieces are large enough, they can be cut into decent-size slabs that will be solid. When choosing your material, know that most of the host stone will be very soft and brittle and will not cab very well, so you will need to determine how and where you will make your cuts for your preform cabochons. Focus on the solid blue areas, even if they have pyrite in them. There a few things you will need to know when starting the cab