Tarbuttite coated by Hydroxylapatite (rare)

Item Description

Here we have a beautiful full cabinet sized piece from the Skorpion Mine in Namibia, a fairly new operation, starting in 2000 as a major zinc ore producer. This locality also has the distinction of producing some attractive specimens of zinc-bearing minerals such as Tarbuttite. Typically this species is not terribly eye-catching as the crystals are often white / colorless, but the specimens from this locality have a gorgeous soft green hue. Now it should be noted that I have seen some of these specimens labeled as being pseudomorphs of Apatite replacing Tarbuttite, but analysis has shown that they are overgrown by a layer of Hydroxylapatite, but the original green Tarbuttite is still present underneath. With that said, this piece is filled with superb, quality attractive, triangular shaped crystals forming beautiful "fan"-shaped groups measuring up to 1.3 cm across, associated with colorless sparkling Hemimorphite on matrix. The piece is in excellent shape with no major damage on the top / display side. Valued $2,500.