Ojuela SCORODITE!

I have recently had rather good luck in obtaining relative unobtainables— phosphophyllite, nikischerite, and now I am pleased to offer these Ojuela scorodites.   I would say that there are two species from the prolific Ojuela mine that top the desirability rankings in the minds of most collectors— one is legrandite, and the other is scorodite.  Of the two, scorodite is by far the more difficult to obtain, with notable finds in the 80’s, and only a couple minor discoveries since.  In contrast, legrandite tends to pop up randomly in the mine— one can be digging for adamite an suddenly come across one; there are indicator minerals that may hint at the correct conditions for its formation, but in general there is no particular zone or level to which they are confined.

Scorodite however, is much rarer. Even the slightest bit of this stuff on matrix seems to cause excitement (and correspondingly high prices) but in looking around a the few other examples available online, I do feel I am offering a hell of a lot more bang for the buck…. I would even say I’m pricing them better than specimens from less desirable localities like Morocco.   

The pieces on this page are greatly filtered down for quality— the majority of material had ugly brown crystals that I suspect had already altered (at least on the surface) to limonite or that were not suitable for specimens. In fact, a good portion of what I obtained ended up in the dumpster.  Blue-ish green examples were very few-- in fact, there was only one piece with crystals as good as OSC01.  There is a reason why so little of this material is available, and why it is so celebrated. 

And on that note: most of the pieces on this page show some degree of blue coloration— those that are just black or brown are noted as such. For the ones that *do* have some blue however, please note that they are color change and *EXTREMELY* sensitive to lighting type.  As I write this, I have the flat sitting next to the window in indirect morning sunlight, and in a number of cases many look even bluer than in the pictures.  Under incandescent light the same piece looks a dull grayish brown.  Oddly enough, the color is different under more direct sunlight as well…. I spent a good portion of yesterday working on these pictures, and I find that the specimens I worked on in the evening (next to my west-facing window) were calibrated to show a color worse than how they now appear the next morning (in more indirect sunlight.)

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OSC01 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
4.1x 2.1x 2.8 cm
$980

A great example of deeply colored scorodite on the typical limonite matrix, from Ojuela.  Of all the examples in this update, this piece has the best combination of color, size, and lustrousness of the crystals, though as you can see the cluster has some edge contacting.  

Please note, there is strong color change-- the color is best when viewed in indirect sunlight or equivalent lighting, and it looks rather sad in incandescent light.  This is not the sapphire-like Zacatecas blue, but it certainly approaches the color of the very good Tsumeb pieces.   In the correct lighting, I'd even say the color is better than the pictures where it looks a bit darker.  











OSC02 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
4.3x 2.1x 2.8 cm
$525

A great example of deeply colored scorodite on the typical limonite matrix, from Ojuela.  I particularly liked this piece for the front-and-center positioning of the crystals, and their size.

Please note, there is strong color change-- the color is best when viewed in indirect sunlight or equivalent lighting, and it looks rather sad in incandescent light.  The color on these is a bit  darker, even in sunlight. 









OSC03 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
6.1x 5.5x 2.0 cm
$445

A great example of blue-green scorodite on the typical limonite matrix, from Ojuela. This piece has a nice cluster of crystals positioned front-and-center.

Please note, there is strong color change-- the color is best when viewed in indirect sunlight or equivalent lighting, and it looks rather sad in incandescent light.  The color on these is a bit  darker, even in sunlight. 







OSC04 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
6.0x 4.7x 3.0 cm
$435

A great example of blue-green colored scorodite from Ojuela.  This piece has a layer of scorodite crystals coating the typical limonite matrix.

Please note, there is strong color change-- the color is best when viewed in indirect sunlight or equivalent lighting, and it looks rather sad in incandescent light.  The color on these is a bit  darker, even in sunlight. 

This one is probably one of the more temperamental ones when it comes to appearance in different lighting-- I think it is because the socorodite layer is a bit thinner, and the underlying limonite has dark and light patches.







OSC05 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
4.8x 2.2x 1.0 cm
$465

A great example of a large scorodite on the typical limonite matrix, from Ojuela.  There is a bit of chipping on the side, but the crystal is particularly large.

Please note, there is strong color change-- the color is best when viewed in indirect sunlight or equivalent lighting, and it looks rather sad in incandescent light.  The color on this piece is a bit  darker, even in sunlight. 







OSC06 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
6.6x 5.1x 3.6 cm
$630

A nice example of  scorodite on the typical limonite matrix, from Ojuela. There is damage (see the top right of the area with crystals), and the lone crystal to the left is particularly well formed, and there is a degree of blue-green that shows through.

Please note, there is strong color change-- the color is best when viewed in indirect sunlight or equivalent lighting, and it looks rather sad in incandescent light.  The color on these is a bit  darker, even in sunlight. 







OSC07 Scorodite
8.5x 6.3x 3.2 cm
$500

A cabinet sized scorodite specimen, with numerous grayish blue crystals on matrix. The area of the limonite with the scorodite is interestingly weathered giving it a more yellowish appearance and an interesting contrast overall.  As with all of these, the color is best under indirect sunlight or equivalent lighting. 

 







OSC08 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
9.4x 3.8x 3.0 cm
$395

A nice example of bluish green scorodite crystals on a limonite matrix.

Please note, there is strong color change-- the color is best when viewed in indirect sunlight or equivalent lighting, and it looks rather sad in incandescent light. 







OSC09 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
12.3x 7.4x 6.7 cm
$700

A larger sized cabinet specimen with numerous scorodite crystals scattered around.  The surfaces are a bit more etched on these crystals, but the piece is exactly as shown.   

Please note, there is strong color change-- the color is best when viewed in indirect sunlight or equivalent lighting, and it looks rather sad in incandescent light.  The color on these is a bit darker, even in sunlight.









OSC10 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
9.4x 4.1x 5.8 cm
$465

A very rich specimen of scorodite, with numerous small grayish blue crystals coating the display face. 

Please note, there is strong color change-- the color is best when viewed in indirect sunlight or equivalent lighting, and it looks rather sad in incandescent light.... this is certainly one of the more finicky ones with regard to appearance in different lighting and lighting intensities.   











OSC11 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
8.5x 5.4x 3.8 cm
$385

A rare example of scorodite from Mina Ojuela, this one has numerous bluish gray crystals in a vug.

Please note, there is strong color change-- the color is best when viewed in indirect sunlight or equivalent lighting, and it looks rather sad in incandescent light. The outdoor image was taken in nearly direct sunlight, and is just slightly more saturated than what you would see under similar conditions.









OSC12 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
7.7x 5.3x 4.6 cm
$400

A nice example of lustrous, well formed scorodite crystals on matrix.  These are black.









OSC13 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
5.9x 5.0x 1.1 cm
$335

A nice example of scorodite on matrix, fro Ojuela. 

Please note, there is strong color change-- the color is best when viewed in indirect sunlight or equivalent lighting, and it looks rather sad in incandescent light.... this is one of the ones that looks better at certain times of day than others.  Either way, not bad for the price. 







OSC14 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
3.6x 2.0x 2.1 cm
$275

A nice example os scorodite from Ojuela, featuring a single, darker, 7mm crystal with hints of blue green in appropriate lighting.  







OSC15 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
8.0x 3.8x 4.9 cm
$435

A larger sample featuring two primary scorodite crystals positioned on the wall of a central vug. These are quite well formed, but a bit darker and still exhibit hints of blue in the correct lighting.







OSC16 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
5.5x 4.3x 2.2 cm
$375

A nice example of scorodite from Ojuela. This piece features a number of crystals along the top edge, the in the small patch at the center of the piece are largely sheared.  These are darker, but in appropriate lighting do show blue undertones. 







OSC17 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
5.6x 3.6x 2.6 cm
$450

A nice example scorodite on a limonite matrix that seems to be coated with small adamite (?) crystals.  The scorodites are large and well formed, but rather dark.  If you hold a bright light right up to the crystals (for instance, from a cellphone) you can see bits of green around the edges-- but for all intents and purposes they are black with a veeeery slight hue visible under certain lighting.  









OSC18 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
3.0x 2.5x 2.3 cm
$325

A nice example of scorodite, with particularly large crystals and good luster.  This piece shows good color under the correct lighting,  but the crystals are also somewhat more included. 









OSC19 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
5.0x 2.6x 1.0 cm
$285

A nice example of scorodite, with particularly large flattened crystals and good luster.  This piece shows good color under the correct lighting,  but the crystals are also somewhat more included. 







OSC20 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
4.5x 2.7x 2.3 cm
$185

A nice example of scorodite, with particularly large flattened crystals and good luster.  This piece shows good color under the correct lighting,  but the crystals are also somewhat more included. 









OSC21 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
3.5x 2.8x 1.6 cm
$200

A nice example of scorodite on matrix, with dark crystals that show a hint of purple hue under strong lighting.  I am not sure what the smaller yellow crystals are-- calcite?  Adamite?







OSC22 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
5.6x 4.6x 1.7 cm
$165

A nice sample of scorodite crystals on matrix-- they are small and purplish brown, (likely from limonite inclusions) but well formed.  Overall a very rare opportunity to get an example of this material at a price that isn't too high.









OSC23 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
7.5x 4.3x 2.1 cm
$200

A nice group of grayish blue scorodite crystals in a vug.  They're a bit hidden in there, but still a great example for the price. 







OSC24 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
6.5x 4.5x 3.1 cm
$375

A nice example hosting several large and well formed scorodite crystals, some with surface etching.  They appear black, though on a couple of the crystals small enough for light to pass through, you can see a bit of blue.  There is some damage, though this remains a good and very rich example for the price.









OSC25 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
7.8x 3.9x 4.8 cm
$285

A nice example of scorodite on matrix.  This one could probably use a trim, as the bulk of the crystals are on on corner of an otherwise long specimen....

The color is particularly good on this one, in appropriate lighting of course. 








OSC26 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
4.4x 2.9x 1.4 cm
$385

A nice example of large and rather well formed, black scorodite crystals on matrix. 







OSC27 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
4.5x 4.0x 3.6 cm
$265

A nice and rather rich example of large, well formed brownish black scorodite crystals on matrix.







OSC28 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
2.8x 1.6x 1.0 cm
$185

A thumbnail sized example of scorodite form Ojuela, hosting a particularly large crystal with good faces.  For all intents and purposes, the color is pretty much black, though near the edges of the neighboring crystals you can catch little hints of blue, in the correct lighting. 









OSC29 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
4.0x 2.6x 1.4 cm
$85

A nice example of very hard to obtain scorodite from Ojuela-- this one has one main brownish crystal with hints of purple on the side, and then some partial brownish-bluish-green crystals in a vug.  A cute reference. 







OSC30 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
3.3x 2.4x 1.6 cm
$95

A nice example of scorodite on matrix, with dark crystals that show a hint of purple hue under strong lighting.  I am not sure what the smaller yellow crystals are-- calcite?  Adamite?







OSC31 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
6.4x 3.0x 1.9 cm
$125

A limonite matrix containing  group of blackish scorodite crystals, with one being particularly well formed 







OSC32 Scorodite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
4.5x 2.8x 2.4 cm
$95

A rare example of scorodite from Ojuela, this one hosting a sale cluster of grayish-blue crystals.  The color varies with lighting. 







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