Detailed information
Species
Arsentsumebite, Azurite, Cerussite
Dimensions
44 x 52 x 32
mm
Weight
91 g
Locality
Tsumeb Mine Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region Namibia
Condition
No recorded repairs
Usually, Arsentsumebite specimens from the Type Locality of Tsumeb mine are micromounts or at best thumbnail in size, but this one is a whopper. It could, to the untrained eye, be mistaken for a much more common copper secondary species - perhaps Malachite - because of its richness, but under magnification there is no confusing this Arsentsumebite with anything else, as it has the classic blade-like crystal form and soft pale emerald-green colour. The Arsentsumebite extends through the specimen, along cracks and within cavities, and in all areas it forms well-formed microcrystals. To add additional character, it is not just a flat specimen, but undulating, with larger open cavities infilled with large (to 1.5 cm across) and glossy deep blue Azurite crystals, and the paragenesis is revealed: showing the Arsentsumebite overgrown by later Azurite. Small Cerussite crystals are present too, but they are earlier still, and in places completely encrusted in Arsentsumebite as intringing 'fingers'. A super-rich Tsumeb classic.