Vauxite with Paravauxite and Wavellite (rare large specimen)

Item Description

This piece is a remarkable, big and notably rare specimen of Vauxite with Paravauxite (both hydrated iron aluminum phosphate minerals) from the type locality, the famed Siglo XX Mine in Bolivia. Typically, Vauxite and Paravauxite specimens are small, often only thumbnails, rarely miniatures, but this piece is a full cabinet sized example featuring dozens upon dozens of sparkling, light blue color micro crystals of Vauxite which are associated with little pale green gemmy tabular blades of Paravauxite along with cream colored botryoidal Wavellite (best seen on the reverse side of the specimen). A lot of the Vauxite/Paravauxite specimens from this important historic mine are often fragile and sometimes "crumbly", but this one is very stable and firm. We have photographed the crystals with a Canon MP-E 65 mm macro lens to show that they are truly terminated crystals and not just a mass. It is very difficult to obtain any specimens of these incredibly beautiful phosphates these days, and pieces this size are virtually unseen on the market. This piece is actually from an older find, circa 1960s and is one of the best of this particular association that I've seen from the locality. As mentioned, this piece is from the type locality for Vauxite and Paravauxite which was originally discovered along the Contacto and San Jose veins in the Siglo XX Mine and first described by Sam Gordon and Mark Bandy. It is so unbelievably rare to find big beautifully crystallized specimens of this material, because they only come from one mine in the world in good display specimens. Valued $4,500.
Ex Brian Kosnar Collection.