Detailed information
Species
Kolwezite, ps. after Cuprite, Cobaltoan Dolomite
Dimensions
46 x 39 x 26
mm
Weight
65 g
Locality
Kakanda deposit Kambove District Lualaba, DR Congo
Condition
No recorded repairs
This very vivid coloured miniature specimen is actually not just eye-catching, but a real rarity too. The standout part is the bright cerise-pink Cobaltoan Dolomite matrix, but it is what's on top that is the really usual part - Kolwezite pseudomorphs after sharp octahedral Cuprite crystals. Kolwezite is a very rare copper cobalt carbonate hydroxide known mainly from a small suite of mines in the DRC, but pseudomorphs after Cuprite are extremely rare. The octahedral crystals here reach 4 mm on edge. It is from Kakanda deposit in Kambove District, Lualaba, DR Congo. Kakanda deposit is actually a series of orebodies all steeply dipping and in an overturned sedimentary sequence situated a short distance to the south-southeast of Fungurume.
