Plumbogummite replacing Pyromorphite (ex Dr. Stephen Smale Collection)

Item Description

Please note, the Plumbogummite specimens that have been on the market for the last few years (often associated with or pseudomorphing after Pyromorphite) have been labeled as coming from the Daoping Mine, but these particular pieces are from Yangshuo. With that said, this piece is a fantastic large cabinet example of the material featuring dozens of beautiful, translucent steel-blue colored spherical groups of Plumbogummite covering / replacing bright greenish-yellow Pyromorphite sitting atop host rock matrix. The Plumbogummite "balls" are actually elongated, because the Pyromorphite crystals are prismatic, but you need to view them from the side to see it. The largest Plumbogummite measures 8 mm long. If you backlight the specimen, you can see a fantastic color inside! A few small contacts keep the piece from being 100% perfect, but it's still a remarkable example of this elusive material. These are not the typical replacements that we're used to seeing from China, and this piece stands out as a fine quality specimen that would make a great addition to any secondary ore collection or a suite of Chinse minerals. Valued between $4,000-$5,000 retail. Ex Dr. Stephen Smale Collection. Along with amassing one of the finest private mineral collections in the world, Steve is a renowned mathematician. His accomplishments include being awarded the Fields Medal in 1966 along with being the awarded the Wolf Prize in mathematics in 2007. You can read Steve's bio on the Mineralogical Record website ( https://mineralogicalrecord.com/labels.asp?colid=671&page=1 ) or on Wikipedia.