Erythrite 'cobalt bloom'

Item Description

Here is a large plate of stunning color, museum-sized, and hosting numerous clusters of vibrant, magenta Erythrite crystals from great finds at the Bou Azzer Mine in the 1980s. There are dozens upon dozens of colorful Erythrite clusters on this piece that consist of 2 to 5 mm, acicular, crystals that scintillate in any ambient lighting! The miners called these "cobalt blooms" and prized them more highly than crystals, simply because they were so pretty. The Erythrite covers about two-thirds of the display face as radial clusters from 1 to 1.5 cm across composed of needle-like crystals of the deepest magenta. Some of them are translucent and display internal reflections with a brighter magenta color. The vibrant Erythrite crystals have METALLIC luster and they contrast nicely with the tan to greenish needle Quartz matrix that underlies the Erythrite, and is exposed in patches. A stately and attractive specimen of this amazing cobalt arsenate species in a large size! Actually, we think it is unprecedented size....never having seen bigger. It is a shocking object in a showcase, particularly with LED lights. The specimen is solid, not fragile. We believe it can be shipped safely although would prefer hand delivery as possible. Valued $20-25,000.