Vauxite

Item Description

Here we have a well crystallized, beautiful blue color, ridiculously rare specimen consisting of radiating crystal aggregates of Vauxite on minor clay matrix (most likely decomposed Allophane). I have photographed the crystals under the microscope to show that they are truly terminated crystals and not just a blue mass. It is very difficult to obtain any specimens of this incredibly beautiful phosphate, especially on matrix. This piece is from the type locality for this material which was discovered along the Contacto and San Jose veins in this mine and was first described by Sam Gordon and Mark Bandy.