Detailed information
Species
Atencioite, Childrenite
Dimensions
34 x 35 x 24
mm
Weight
14 g
Locality
Poço d'Antas claim Piauí Valley, Taquaral, Itinga Minas Gerais, Brazil
Condition
No recorded repairs
The extremely rare calcium iron magnesium beryllium phosphate hydroxide hydrate species, Atencioite, was described from a pegmatite deposit at Linópolis in Divino das Laranjeiras, Minas Gerais, Brazil in 2006. It has subsequently been identified in two more pegmatites, but further afield in northern Minas Gerais state. One of these: Poço d'Antas claim, where it was found in about 2014, has produced still small, but much better crystallized material, as demonstrated in this lovely miniature specimen from the rare species collection of brothers Martin and Michael Günther (1951-2007 & 1956-2021). It occurs as finely crystallized murky green crusts associated with longer, bladed, clove-brown Childrenite crystals. This is a high quality example of this extremely rare phosphate which is never found in large crystals.