Rare Mineral Gallery 2


click on images for larger view -  image on right is 7 x 7mm

BOTRY9-1  Botryogen, Pickeringite & Copiapite  $48

Libiola Mine, Sestri Levante, Genova Province, Liguria, Italy

2 cm x 3 cm x 2 cm; largest crystal size ~ 1.5 mm

Get three rarities for the price of one!  Red-orange crystals of Botryogen (MgFe3+[OH|(SO4)2]) amidst white needles of Pickeringite (MgAl2(SO4)4·22H2O) are artfully scattered upon mounded, massive yellow Copiapite (Fe2+Fe3+4[OH|(SO4)3]2· 20H2O).  The locality is an old abandoned copper mine.


click on image for larger view

BOUR9-1  Bournonite  $75

Pulacayo Mine, Huanchaca, Quijarro Province,
Potosí Department, Bolivia


3.1 cm x 2.8 cm x 0.8 cm

Bournonite, PbCuSbS3 is a relatively rare copper sulfosalt, best known for forming distinctive "cogwheels" as evidenced in the two photos above.  The cogwheels are due to contact twinning or polysynthetic twinning.  This specimen has some very fine cogwheels.

Depth of field in all close-ups is achieved with CombineZP freeware.

Next Gallery

or select a gallery from the table below:

Big Rocks Gallery 1
Tucson 2010 Gallery 2
Bargain Gallery Gallery 3
Rare Mineral Gallery 1 Gallery 4
Rare Mineral Gallery 2 Fluorescent Gallery 1
West Coast Spring 2010 Fluorescent Gallery 2

 

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