very fine Philipsburgite (Type Locality) on Quartz (Chet Lemanski Coll.)

Item Description

Philipsburgite is a rare complex hydrated Cu-Zn-arsenate-phosphate, discovered in 1983 and approved in 1985. It is the arsenate analogue of Kipushite. The famous Black Pine Mine is the Type Locality, which also produced easily the world's finest examples of the rare phosphate Veszelyite. Two generations of minute, lustrous, translucent, rich emerald-green spherules completely envelop all sides of the euhedral, flattened, terminated quartz crystal. This extinct Ag-Au-Cu-Pb-Zn-Sb mine operated intermittently from 1885 until 2000. Ex Chet Lemanski Collection and acquired in 1985 in New York from young but highly knowledgeable mineral dealer, Howard Belsky, the same year the species was approved! This is certainly the style found from the Type pocket, as well, I am told. An exceptional, very rich and RARE combination example of the species. A superb, rare specimen of high value.