Detailed information
Species
Anorthoroselite, Calcite
Dimensions
47 x 67 x 37
mm
Weight
128 g
Locality
Aghbar Mine Bou Azer District, Tazenakht Ouarzazate Province, Morocco
Condition
No recorded repairs
Anorthoroselite is the new name (since 2022) for Beta-Roselite, a calcium cobalt arsenate hydrate dimorphous with Roselite but with triclinic rather than monoclinic crystallography. Large miniature in size, this specimen consists of a bed of crystallized white and brown Calcite upon which a layer of burgundy-brown Anorthoroselite crystals has developed. Amongst these, a few striking vivid pink glassy bladed crystals protrude, but it is unclear if these are Roselite. The area of colourful crystals covers more than 5.5 x 3 cm, making for a significant display of this rare mineral/s. It is from the superb systematic collection assembled by brothers Martin and Michael Günther (1951-2007 & 1956-2021) and this assemblage is unlikely to be repeated.