A large and exceptionally rich cabinet specimen of clinoatacamite, hosting numerous dark green clusters of the mineral set against a matrix covered by blue chrysocolla over quartz.
I purchased a large lot of Lilly Mine material while in Peru, the bulk of the specimens were mainly just druses of quartz over chrysocolla or malachite, though there were a small quantity of these very rare clinoatacamite specimens as well.
The majority of the examples I have seen have the crystals somewhat jumbled together, or set against dark green malachite matrixes. As a result, the crystals can be hard to properly appreciate. The contrasting background and distinct nature of the crystals and crystal clusters make the clinoatacamite on this piece easier to discern and appreciate.
There are some blemishes to the display face, though overall the specimen is exactly as shown.
A number of sharp smoky cerussite crystals on matrix. Cerussite has never been particularly common at Mina Ojuela, but there was recently a sizable find of the material.
Mexican mineral collectors highly prize Ojuela cerussites, and when you actually do see one, it will often be priced at a premium.
This one is a particularly good miniature from the find.
A number of sharp smoky cerussite crystals on matrix. Cerussite has never been particularly common at Mina Ojuela, but there was recently a sizable find of the material.
This one is less messy in person-- the crystals are actually quite sharp, and it hosts a pair of smoky twins near the top, as well as a somewhat rarer (for this find) clear crystal near the center.
Mexican mineral collectors highly prize Ojuela cerussites, and when you actually do see one, it will often be priced at a premium.
This one is a particularly good miniature from the find.
A number of sharp cerussite crystals on matrix. Cerussite has never been particularly common at Mina Ojuela, but there was recently a sizable find of the material.
This specimen hosts a number of colorless crystals-- relatively few specimens were colorless, the bulk of what was recovered consisted of smoky crystals, the result of minute sulfide inclusions.
Mexican mineral collectors highly prize Ojuela cerussites, and when you actually do see one, it will often be priced at a premium.
This one is a particularly good miniature from the find.