Paravauxite on Vauxite (new find)

Siglo XX mine, Llallagua, Bustillo Province, Potosi Department, Bolivia (type locality for both species)
Toenail, 3.2 x 2.0 x 1.4 cm
Start Time: 07/29/2010 6:45:00 pm (CDT)
End Time: 08/05/2010 6:45:00 pm (CDT)
Auction Closed

Item Description

This piece is a remarkable, very well crystallized, ridiculously rare specimen consisting of tabular blades of greenish-white Paravauxite on small, radiating, beautiful blue color aggregates of Vauxite with on white clay (probably decomposed Allophane) matrix. I have photographed the Vauxite crystals under high magnification to show that they are truly terminated crystals and not just a blue mass. I have also photographed the Paravauxite crystals under high magnification. It is very difficult to obtain any specimens of this incredibly beautiful phosphate and to find all two "Vauxite" species together on one piece is fantastic. This piece is from the type locality for Vauxite and Paravauxite which were originally discovered along the Contacto and San Jose veins in this mine and first described by Sam Gordon and Mark Bandy. It is so unbelievably rare to find beautifully crystallized specimens of Vauxite and Paravauxite together from Bolivia like this one. From the a find in October of 2008.

Did You Know We Offer Custom Bases?

Learn More