Dolomite ''cast'' with Kaolinite

Item Description

Tsumeb is well-known for its pseudomorphs and "casts" (sometimes called epimorphs and / or perimorphs), especially these beautiful Dolomite specimens. This piece features light beige colored sparkling crystals of Dolomite forming a thin shell-like "cast" after a botryoidal mineral (possibly Smithsonite or Calcite?). Minor Kaolinite can be seen on the piece as well for a nice touch. A really attractive example of these well-known but now notably hard to find specimens from what is in many people's minds, the most prolific mineral locality in the world.
From the collection Dr. Robert ("Rob") Bowell, a geochemist and adjunct professor in Geochemistry and Mineralogy at Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Rob has a background in applied geology in tropical and deeply weathered terrains, he also has done mining consulting in the fields of due diligence, financial and technical audits, process chemistry, environmental geochemistry, environmental engineering and mineralogy.