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Danburite (blue)
- Alto Chapare, Chapare Province, Cochabamba Department, Bolivia
- Toenail, 3.3 x 3.2 x 2.2 cm
- Start Time: 10/07/2010 6:45:00 pm (CDT)
- End Time: 10/14/2010 6:45:00 pm (CDT)
- Auction Closed
Item Description
One of the new finds from the summer collecting in Bolivia. While these specimens are not a new find per se, they are new specimens from a well known locality. These are the only blue Danburite crystals that I have ever seen from any locality. Truly the crystals themselves are colorless, but are included by a rare Amphibole called Magnesioriebeckite, for which this is the type locality. This specimen hosts a predominant, nice, sharp, highly lustrous, well formed, prismatic, doubly-terminated, gray-blue color crystal of Danburite measuring 1.4 cm sitting atop white Talc matrix. It is not common to find the Danburite crystals from this locality on matrix, especially doubly-terminated crystals aesthetically perched on matrix like this. An interesting historical note about this locality: Supposedly the mineral was first discovered in the tomb of a cacique (a native Indian chief) where they had been placed jewels to signify that he was rich. The find of these crystals was made near there.