Detailed information
Dimensions
70 x 68 x 36
mm
Locality
Bou Azzer, Tazenakht Ouarzazate Province Morocco
Condition
No recorded repairs
Talmessite is a very rare hydrated calcium magnesium arsenate which when pure is colourless or white. However, its appearance can shift dramatically with even the slightest of trace elements, from green with nickel to pink with cobalt. At the extreme end, specimens from the Bou Azzer mining area in Morocco are known to reach deep cerise in colour. This fantastic specimen doesn't come with any analytical data, but identical specimens are known to have been analysed in the past and it is presumed that the previous labelling of this specimen was from its association with analytically confirmed material. Upon it beautifully rich sparkling deep maroon red crystals of Talmessite cover the display face, with larger (to 5 mm) earlier, lighter, cerise-coloured Talmessite in a triangular pyramidal habit. At small cabinet size this is an extraordinarily rich, world-class specimen of this very unusual species.