Guanacoite (extremely rare)

Item Description

Here we have an exceptionally rare specimen of Guanacoite, a hydrated copper magnesium hydroxy arsenate, from the type locality for the species, the Guanaco Project in Chile. This mineral is only found in FOUR places on earth as of the time of this posting, and the pieces from the Guanaco Project are by far the best and most well-known. This small cabinet specimen features a patch of beautiful bright blue Guanacoite, including some attractive euhedral thin prismatic crystals, which are associated with soft green colored coatings of Conichalcite on matrix. The accompanying label states that there is Orickite on the specimen (presumably the dark reddish-black metallic species), but I can't find a report of this mineral being found at the Guanaco Project, and I think it might just be Cuprite. Nonetheless, this is a very nice example of this incredibly hard to find material. If you collect rarities or minerals from the type locality, don't miss out on this one.
From the collection of noted species collector Paolo Matioli of Brazil, who specialized in rarities around the world.