Cerussite (''jackstraw'' crystals)

Item Description

Here we have a good quality and rarely seen example of Cerussite from the renowned copper district of Mindouli in the Republic of the Congo. Typically, the cerussites from this locality are small and somewhat non-descript, but this one is big and robust for the locality. The important aspect of this piece is the fact that it's loaded with dozens of crystals, and not just a handful (or one) of them. The crystals meaure up to 2.8 cm with an off-white color and thin prismatic form, and have grown together into what it is commonly referred to a "jackstraw"-shaped group. Most of the crystals are in good shape, but if you look closely, you can see some roughness in places. The reverse side of the piece features a few tiny acicular crystals of green Malachite for a nice touch. This piece came direct in a lot of dioptase specimens from Kimbedi, and stands as one of the finest examples from the locality that we have had to offer.