Vauxite (superb color) (very rare)

Item Description

This is a remarkable, well crystallized, very rare specimen consisting of radiating crystal aggregates of Vauxite with the finest venetian blue color seen in the species. The piece is essentially a thin layer of Vauxite which may have formed on top of some kind of clay (perhaps decomposed Allophane), which dissolved and left this "lace"-like crust of superb blue color Vauxite behind. Upon close inspection, I can see some TINY golden-brown crystals of what is either Childrenite or Ferrivauxite, but I can't tell even under magnification. This piece is from the find in 1979 (originally attributed to the Huanuni Mine) which produced the finest examples of the species ever seen. It is very difficult to obtain any specimens of this incredibly beautiful phosphate, but pieces from this particular pocket are highly desirable and virtually unseen on the market today, especially in this size. Most pieces were only a few cm, and this one is close to a full 7 cm, and I value it highly for that reason. This piece is from the type locality for Vauxite, which was originally discovered along the Contacto and San Jose veins in this mine and was first described by Sam Gordon and Mark Bandy. You're not likely to see another specimen of Vauxite from the 1979 pocket in this size anywhere else on the market, so don't miss out.
Valued $7,500 for the superb color, quality and size.
From the collection of Gary and Terry Butts of Livermore, Colorado. This husband and wife collecting duo were childhood sweethearts, and have been together since they began dating as teenagers growing up in East Des Moines, Iowa in the 1950s. Both of them had an early interest in the hobby thanks to the fact that Terry's parents had a keen interest in lapidary, which sparked an interest in rocks for both of them. Gary and Terry were featured in an article in the Des Moines Register on Feb 4, 1962 (see photo in this listing) highlighting their interest and prowess in the hobby as youngsters. Gary traveled to various localities around the US as a teenager with his father (who worked in the tin industry), to personally collect specimens. He then attended the School of Mines in Golden, Colorado and graduated in 1967 with a degree in extractive metallurgical engineering. We went to work for Duval Corp at the Esperanza Mine south of Tucson, Arizona and then work for Cyprus Mines, Hazen Research, Pincock, Allen & Holt and the Colorado School of Mines Research Institute. His final job was in the mineral and environmental division of Intertek Testing Services of London, which owned the Canadian mineral testing company, Bonder Clegg. Gary's various jobs allowed him to travel the world and build his collection by buying a lot of specimens in person when they were coming out of the ground. Additionally, Terry's uncle was a miner in Creede, Colorado and later owned a rock shop which supplied Gary with specimens from the area. The specimens in this auction represent what Gary and Terry considered the "cream of the crop" of their collection.