Detailed information
Species
Descloizite
Dimensions
35 x 43 x 19
mm
Weight
32 g
Locality
Berg Aukas, Grootfontein District Otjozondjupa Region Namibia
Condition
No recorded repairs
Berg Aukas in Grootfontein District, Otjozondjupa Region, Namibia is simply known for one thing - Descloizite. It is one of those deposits where world-class crystals of one species erase all memory of anything else, but why not when the crystals are that good. When Descloizite was first discovered at Berg Aukas, in the early 20th century, the crystals redefined what anyone thought possible for the species and yet it occurred in remarkable quantities throughout the near surface oxidation zone. Fantastic specimens made their way into all major museums, but when the mine closed in 1978 the supply dried up. Nowadays, good specimens are hard to find. This miniature comprises a 7 mm thick crust of classic, 'spearpoint' crystals, intensely glossy in their lustre and with a cola brown colour. The crust has been detached from matrix leaving a hollow cast, but with a dense feel due to the purity of the Descloizite. Some of the crystals have slight damage to their tips, but it is a really nice example of this sharp, pointed form of Descloizite, compared with the more common rounded crystals.