Detailed information
Species
Arsentsumebite
Dimensions
46 x 57 x 30
mm
Locality
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb Oshikoto Region (Otjikoto Region) Namibia
Condition
No recorded repairs
I hesitate to use the word showstopper, but in the case of this miniature Azurite with Arsentsumebite, I feel its use is justified. Highly lustrous deep azure blue clusters of Azurite crystals form two linked chains across a contrasting background of creamy peppermint Malachite and rich emerald green Arsentsumebite. Such a combination hardly needs introduction as from the Tsumeb mine in Namibia and is a magnificent example of both species. Arsentsumebite is the arsenate analogue to Tsumebite and was common throughout the 1st Oxidation Zone, although is known to also come from the supergene near-surface zone and 2nd Oxidations Zone. Two famous associations of Azurite with Arsentsumebite are those from pillar-robbing operations on 6 Level in 1989 and the Easter Pocket find on 8 Level in 1994. The Azurite forms crystal clusters to about 1 cm while the Arsentsumebite crystals are typically about 1 mm or less in length.