Tarbuttite (fine color)

Item Description

The Skorpion Mine in Namibia was started in 2000 as a major zinc ore producer, but it is also the source of some attractive zinc-bearing species such as Tarbuttite. Typically this species is not terribly attractive, as the crystals are often white / colorless, but the specimens from this locality have a gorgeous soft green hue. Now, it should be noted that I have seen some of these specimens labeled as being pseudomorphs of Apatite replacing Tarbuttite, but I cannot say if that is the case with this piece. With that said, this small cabinet is filled with attractive, triangular shaped crystals of Tarbuttite measuring up to 1.0 cm long, free of matrix. The crystals have a soft white sugary / drusy coating of what could be another species (possibly Skorpionite, Hemimorphite or Scholzite), or they may just be a tiny overgrowth of additional Tarbuttite crystals. The piece is in excellent shape with no major damage on the top / display side. Valued in the inventory at $850.