Zanazziite (very rare) on Rose Quartz (original discovery!)

Item Description

This is an excellent specimen of a very rare phosphate from a world-famous locality. Zanazziite is a hydrated calcium magnesium iron aluminum beryllium phosphate that has been reported from only about 20 places in the world, most of which are in Brazil. This particular specimen is from the very first discovery of the species at the famous locality "Lavra da Ilha" (Ilha Claim) in Taquaral. The specimen hosts attractive translucent, olive-green crystal groups measuring up to 3 mm across sitting on beautifully contrasting bubble-gum pink Rose Quartz matrix. The quality of the Zanazziite groups is super, and looks wonderful under magnification. From the collected of noted mineral dealers and collector, Richard Kosnar who personally obtained the piece in the early 1970s. As an odd coincidence, Zanazziite was originally named "Kosnarite" when it was discovered, but due to an error in the description that was submitted, it had to be renamed. Later, another species was named Kosnarite in Rich's honor, and as an even stranger twist, the new Kosnarite was actually discovered in Brazil in very close proximity to where the old "Kosnarite" (now Zanazziite) was originally discovered years ago.