Scorzalite (rare)

Item Description

Going back to the early 2010s, a small discovery was made at the Estaño Orcko Mine in Bolivia which produced some very impressive and attractive specimens of Scorzalite. To the best of my knowledge, this was the first discovery of Scorzalite at any mine in the entire country. For some time these specimens were thought to be Lazulite, but Brian Kosnar was the one who first reported (through analysis) that they are indeed Scorzalite (the iron analogue of Lazulite), which makes sense as iron dictates the mineralogy in many Bolivian localities, especially in the phosphate species. For the size, luster and overall quality of the crystals, they are certainly some of the best Scorzalites to hit the market in a very long time. This particular specimen hosts a few inky-blue color, monoclinic crystals of Scorzalite measuring up to 3 mm on matrix. The crystals look great under magnification, and for rarities collectors, or those who admire Bolivian minerals, this piece would make a great addition to your collection. No more have been found since the initial discovery, and it's not likely we'll see them again.