Paravauxite with Sigloite

Item Description

These crystals are one of the most beautiful phosphates in the world. They are highly prized for their rarity and beauty. This specimen features, very rare, beautiful, light green color Paravauxite crystals and some minor tan color Sigloite crystals on micro iron-stained Wavellite on matrix. Sigloite forms as an alteration of Paravauxite. The largest Paravauxite crystal measures 1.5 cm, and the main group is starting to form one of the classic Llallagua "pinwheels", which is arguably the most famous crystallization for Paravauxite and from this mine. This specimen is from the type locality for both Paravauxite and Sigloite! 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, especially pieces that are larger than thumbnails available on the market. This piece is a great example of the prismatic, sheaf-like parallel growths that Mr. Bandy described.