Cerussite (fluorescent) on Mottramite

Item Description

Cerussite is one of the signature species from the great Tsumeb Mine, and quality specimens, no matter what the habit, are highly sought-after. This small-cabinet combination piece features gemmy, light smoky Cerussites sitting on a dense, hard matrix of blackish-green, lustrous, micro Mottramites. The Cerussites have good luster, complex form, and a whitish-yellow fluorescence. In fact, they are so gemmy that within the largest, 3.5 cm crystal you can see the internal reflections being double-refracted. Aside from the expected contacting along the edges of the piece, there are just a few dings on the soft Cerussite, but they have no real affect on the presentation. The aesthetics, with these large, gemmy crystals sitting on contrasting matrix, are quite good, and it is made all the better when you remember that Tsumeb is long closed. From the collection of Kurt Hefendehl, a well-known German collector all over Europe with worldwide contacts to dealers and collectors. He started collecting seriously at the age of 14 and his great and varied worldwide collection reached over 6000 pieces. Specimens of cerussite together with a contrasting mineral are highly desirable and this is an unusual, and pretty, association. Valued $2500-3500.