Libethenite (1975 find)

Item Description

A sculptural 7.0 cm vug in large matrix hosts a very well-placed 1.3 cm, doubly terminated libethenite crystal. The pseudo-octahedral, sharp, lustrous compound crystals are black to greenish-black. The stepped-growth faces really enhance the form of the crystals and this crystal is quite large for the find and are rare. The matrix is argillite, a fine-grained sedimentary rock composed predominantly of indurated clay particles (Wikipedia). This large underground and open pit Cu-Co mine produced the world's finest examples of this uncommon Cu-phosphate in 1975, with several different crystal habits found (this owner was there at the time working, and took some home, stored until now!). See the 1978 Mineralogical Record article in Vol. 9, No. 6. An excellent and showy large matrix specimen from the find with fine form.