Clinoatacamite on Quartz

Item Description

These shocking examples of rare green copper minerals came out of Peru for a few years around 2015 and then ceased, and provided the best examples of several species, with beautiful crystals on contrasting matrix. This one actually is indeed A MAJOR specimen for the species with HUGE clinoatacamites to 1.3 cm, perched on intensely glassy, sparkling quartz that is included green by other copper minerals. On this matrix specimen a thin layer of malachite underlies glassy and gemmy, colorless quartz. The clinoatacamite is a robust crystal habit, and has a dark green color. The smaller (1-2mm) sharp, isolated crystals have been said to be the related species atacamite, though we have not analyzed them. For the species, this was simply unprecedented. No more of quality have come out. This was valued at the time, when on sale at the Munich show with the dealer who brought them out, over $1000 and it was reasonable then - and more so, now. It is a spectacular example of a very rare species.