Paravauxite

Contacto vein, Siglo XX mine, Llallagua, Bustillos Province, Potosi Department, Bolivia
Miniature, 4.5 x 3.2 x 2.5 cm
Start Time: 11/03/2011 6:45:00 pm (CDT)
End Time: 11/10/2011 6:45:00 pm (CST)
Auction Closed

Item Description

These crystals are one of the most beautiful phosphates in the world. They are highly prized for their rarity and beauty. This piece features superb, incredibly rare, sharp, sparkling, lustrous, translucent/gemmy, light green crystals of Paravauxite with minor Wavellite (or possibly Crandallite?) spheres on matrix. The largest crystal measures 7 mm. Mark Chance Bandy described Paravauxite crystals in his book "Mineralogy of Llallagua, Bolivia". He states that "Paravauxite is the most abundant of all the "Vauxites" from this mine," and with that said, you almost never see specimens on the market, especially with this kind of quality and aesthetics. This piece is a great example of the prismatic, sheaf-like parallel growths that Mr. Bandy described. Please note that the specimen is glued to a thin plastic dowel.

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