Szenicsite (very rare)

Item Description

A seldom seen specimen of Szenicsite, an incredibly rare copper hydroxy molybdate species, named after Terry and Marissa Szenics, US mineral dealers and collectors who first discovered the material. After the initial discovery, the only known locality for the species was the type locality, the Jardinera No. 1 Mine in the Atacama Desert of Chile, but recent analysis via Raman spectroscopy has confirmed the species from Carlota Mine in Arizona. With that said, the best and most celebrated specimens are still those from the Jardinera No. 1 Mine. This piece is filled with tiny vugs featuring deep emerald green platy crystals of this very rare mineral which are associated with silvery metallic Molybdenite, and a small amount of yellow-green colored Powellite (copper-bearing) can be seen on the piece as well, which fluoresces under SW UV light. The label also states there is Hematite on the piece but all I can see is what appears to be Chalcopyrite. This is mostly a reference specimen, not a great display piece, but if you collect specimens from the type locality, very rare species, or minerals named after people, it's a nice specimen to add to your collection. One rarely has the opportunity to pick up a piece of this material, especially now since nothing is has come from the locality in years, and no more pieces will likely ever be found. From the collection of Colin Manlove.