Zanazziite with Eosphorite on Rose Quartz (Mined: 1974)

Item Description

This pieces dates back to the early 1970s, from the original find of Zanazziite at the Ilha Claim (Lavra da Ilha), which is the type locality for the species. This rare hydrated calcium magnesium iron aluminum beryllium phosphate has been found in several Brazilian localities, but only THREE other places on Earth outside of Brazil. It's a member of the Roscherite Group, and was named after Pier Francesco Zanazzi, a Professor of Mineralogy at the University of Perugia in Italy. These are the best Zanazziite specimens in the world, and they are often found associated with Eosphorite. This piece hosts attractive, olive-green, radial crystal groups of the Zanazziite measuring up to about 5 mm, which are associated with, thin bladed, golden-brown crystals of Eosphorite sitting on soft pink colored Rose Quartz, with associated white Albite. Overall, the specimen is in good shape, though I can see a few contacts with a loupe. From the collection of Richard ("Rich") A. Kosnar (1946-2007), the well-known mineral dealer and collector from Colorado. Rich actually was the first US mineral dealer to bring Zanazziite to the market (this particular piece was mined in 1974) when he was actively travelling to Brazil and importing gems and minerals. Coincidentally, the first specimens of Zanazziite were not found too far away from Rich's namesake species Kosnarite, in Brazil, though about 30 years apart.