Large Hemimorphite (uncommon locale)

M'fouati Mine, M'Fouati, Bouenza Department, Republic of Congo
Large Cabinet, 19.4 x 8.7 x 8.3 cm
Start Time: 03/28/2019 6:30:00 pm (CDT)
End Time: 04/04/2019 6:34:01 pm (CDT)
Auction Closed

Item Description

Colorful robins eggs-blue banded bubbly hemimorphite botryoids fill the sculptural vug in this dramatic large specimen from this uncommon locale. The small mine was intermittently active from the late 1930s into the 1980s. The M'fouati Mine has produced outstanding wulfenite, dioptase and hemimorphite specimens, among others. This hefty ore specimen contains much sparkly microcrystalline willemite in the gossan matrix. The contacting reveals the underlying banded nature of the hemimorphite and has very minimal impact to the overall very high quality of this large specimen. This impressive, colorful piece probably comes from the 2011-2014 collecting efforts by artisanal miners. See the excellent locality Mineralogical Record article in the July-August, 2018, Vol. 49, No. 4 issue. 1964 grams or 4.3 pounds mass. RARE on the market in this size, richness and quality!

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