Aurichalcite (RARE locality specimen)

Item Description

A stunning showy display specimen from the Yanga Koubenza Quarries in Republic of the Congo featuring bubbly, botryoidal, rich turquoise blue colored aggregates (which grade into a lighter blue color along the peripheral areas) of Aurichalcite, free of matrix. I think I can count the number of really Aurichalcites I've seen from this locality on one hand, and this is certainly a fine quality example, not an arbitrary reference piece. Yanga Koubenza produced a few pockets of stunning blue-green Smithsonite and Aurichalcite specimens in the summer of 2021, the best of which are comparable to the famous finds at Kelly Mine, New Mexico. However, even there, large Aurichalcite specimens are actually 100 times rarer than the famous Smithsonites. In this similar deposit, it seems the same rule holds, and the few fine Aurichalcites are treasures. This is a good one, and if you collect secondary copper minerals, I'll bet you don't have an impressive eye-catching piece like this in your collection. Don't miss out, these kind of discoveries are typically limited and sometimes never produce again. With the turmoil surrounding the various copper mines in both the Bouenza Department and the Pool Department in Republic of the Congo, mining has been halted recently, so we don't know when or if new material will be coming out again.
Valued $1,850.