Descloizite (fine quality)

Item Description

Certainly the finest and most well-known crystallized specimens of Descloizite in the world are those from the famous Berg Aukus Mine in Namibia. These world-renowned pieces are superior both in their crystallization and often size compared to any other pieces of the species from other localities. These pieces have set the standard of excellence for this zinc analogue of Mottramite. It is because of Berg Aukus that we know how good Descloizite crystals can actually get. This small cabinet sized piece features fine, sharp, distinct, well-formed, lustrous, "spearhead"-shaped crystals with a rich chocolate-brown hue measuring up to 2.2 cm, sitting on minor matrix. The crystals lustrous on select faces, with more of matte luster on the other side, but they are smooth and beautiful to view up close. No real damage that I can find, outside of the periphery where the piece was removed from the pocket wall. Valued $1,200. The piece originally was part of the collection of Willard W. Wulff (1904-1998) of Colorado Springs, Colorado, a prominent figure and collector of Colorado minerals. Collection #915. Wulff was one of the founding members of the Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society in 1936. You can read Willard's bio on the Mineralogical Record website here. The piece comes with a typed label from Wulff on one of his famous 3x5 index cards and his little display base / tag. Most recently from the collection of Brian Kosnar.