Detailed information
Species
Azurite, Bayldonite, ps. after Mimetite
Dimensions
66 x 61 x 55
mm
Weight
258 g
Locality
Tsumeb Mine Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region Namibia
Condition
No recorded repairs
The famous Tsumeb mine in Namibia is renowned for fascinating geochemical surprizes, one of which is the diversity of pseudomorphs found within its many orebodies. This wonderful large miniature specimen is already a very fine and rich aggregate of very glossy Azurite crystals but it is what is associated with it that is most of interest here. Intimately intergrown with the Azurite is abundant finely crystallized drusy, green, Bayldonite. Bayldonite, a lead copper arsenate hydroxide, is a very rare mineral worldwide, but at Tsumeb it was known to replace Mimetite and if one looks carefully this specimen shows many small 'tubes' which are in fact classic pseudomorphs, or perhaps epimorphs, of Bayldonite after small prisms of Mimetite. Classic older material. Ex Kessler Collection.
