Roselite

Item Description

Hundreds of lustrous, bright magenta-colored Roselite crystals cover much of the display surface of this exceptional, small-cabinet piece from Bou Azzer, Morocco. The Roselite occurs as super-lustrous and GEMMY crystals to 7 mm. Imagine euhedral, well-lit pomegranate seeds, and you will get the idea. Roselite is a hydrated calcium-cobalt arsenate and is the cobalt analogue of Wendwilsonite; the two often occur together and may do so on this piece. This is classic material from Bou Azzer, and while it is very attractive under magnification, it literally glows and sparkles in your hand. Truly. The Calcite in the matrix below fluoresces orange, adding yet another layer of interest to this excellent piece. Aesthetic and choice, this is likely from the finds of the late 1980s. The color on this one is SHOCKING. NOTE: this may in fact be wendwilsonite as the two species are closely related but, it has not been analysed. We will assume it is roselite, which although amazing, is the lower valued of the two species in people's minds.