Cumengeite on Anglesite (1891!) Paris School of Mines

Item Description

A historic and rich combination specimen with a super provenance from the Type Locality of cumengeite. Sparkly, gemmy, tetragonal, indigo-blue, microcrystals of cumengeite are richly sprinkled on the massive anglesite matrix. This piece was collected by Edouard Cumenge (1828-1902), French mining engineer at Boleo, Mexico in 1891. Interestingly, note that the old label on the back of the piece says boleite, as cumengeite was not described until 1893. It was at the Paris School of Mines until 1980, when the great collector/dealer Al McGuinness acquired it by exchange for his own collection. The University of Delaware subsequently obtained the piece. Value today for such a rarity???