Chrysocolla on/after Veszelyite (rare locale)

Item Description

A mining district in southern Scotland, Wanlockhead was first active in the late Bronze Age (really, just try to wrap your mind around that!). Before the mines closed in the 1930s, they produced many interesting and attractive copper, lead, and zinc minerals. This vintage, large miniature is one such example, comprised of Chrysocolla and Veszelyite. The main pocket is 1.4 cm across, and it is rich with once-blue Veszelyites coated by or completely pseudomorphed by Chrysocolla. Elsewhere on this fine specimen you can find isolated, SHARP pseudos, as well. I like the attractive color combinations here, especially with some of the Limonite matrix adjacent to the main pocket, and I love the interesting chemistry that is at play. Recently deaccessed from the Tim Sherburn collection.