Mottramite

Item Description

Tsumeb is for many people the greatest mineral locality in the world. The large number of specimens, ranging from common to extremely rare, almost all of which are found in exceptionally good quality crystals, makes this mine truly legendary. This piece is a classic example of Mottramite, featuring somewhat botryoidal formations (they almost look like some kind of aquatic life, like coral) with a very dark grey-black hue on the surface, but when you flip the piece over, you can see a layer of olive-green colored Mottramite underneath. The surface might be a secondary coating of another mineral or just a simple oxidation. No major damage, and it looks better in person in my mind. From the worldwide mineral collection of Albert Lewis Kidwell (January 1, 1919 - August 16, 2008). Al was a well-known mineral collector and research geologist with Carter Oil Company and later Exxon Oil Company in Houston, Texas. The phosphate species Kidwellite was named in his honor in 1974.