Vivianite (ex Brian Kosnar Collection)

Item Description

In the early 1980's this mine produced some of the largest and most spectacular Vivianite specimens in Bolivian history. There were plates of crystals just pouring out of the mine for a brief period of time. Then, the mine manager decided that the miners were too distracted collecting Vivianite and not attending to their duties underground, so he decided to blow up the entire section of the mine where the Vivianite was being collected, thus greatly limiting the number of specimens that would make their way to the market. This piece is one of the last specimens to come out the Morococala during the "Vivianite Boom". It features lustrous, gemmy, sharp, prismatic emerald green crystals of Vivainite. The size and quality is good for this locality, and the top of the piece is undamaged. These piece are no longer being mined and they are incredibly difficult to find on the market today. From the collection of Brian Kosnar.