Tarbuttite (fine color)

Item Description

The Skorpion Mine in Namibia is a fairly new operation, starting in 2000 as a major zinc ore producer, but it also is the source of some attractive zinc-bearing species such as Tarbuttite. Typically this species is not terribly attractive, 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 I cannot say if that is the case with this piece. With that said, this small cabinet is filled with superb, quality attractive, triangular shaped crystals of Tarbuttite measuring up to 7 mm long sitting on a small amount matrix. The crystals have a soft white sugary / drusy coating of what would be another species (possibly Skorpionite, Hemimorphite or Scholzite), or they may just be a tiny overgrowth of additionally Tarbuttite crystals. The piece is in excellent shape with no major damage on the top / display side. Valued in the inventory at $1000.